Narrative:

Entered pao air traffic area VFR from east bay (leslie salt) and entered on 45 degree for right downwind runway 30. Midfield right downwind tower cleared me to land, advised there would be one departure prior to my arrival. Tower cleared one aircraft for takeoff and I turned base to land. Tower then cleared a second aircraft Y on runway in position and hold as I turned final (approximately 1 mi final). Combination of heavy radio traffic and a stuck microphone by unidented aircraft prohibited me from questioning tower action. Aircraft Y on runway began takeoff roll and tower tried to cancel takeoff clearance but pilot continued takeoff. Clear frequency time enabled me to declare go-around. I was now 'boxed in' by aircraft on takeoff climb and right downwind traffic. As tower advised me to fly right side of runway. Tower advised to turn left behind aircraft Y on climb out. I entered left traffic and landed west/O incident. 2 individuals were 'working' tower frequency and I was advised, once on the ground, that training was taking place. The airport was quite busy. Not a near miss but close traffic conflict! If tower wished to depart 2 aircraft I could've easily extended downwind!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATCT LCL CTLR FAILS TO ENSURE RWY CLEAR FOR SMA X LNDG. OPDEV. ACFT Y TKOF WITHOUT CLRNC. PLTDEV.

Narrative: ENTERED PAO ATA VFR FROM E BAY (LESLIE SALT) AND ENTERED ON 45 DEG FOR R DOWNWIND RWY 30. MIDFIELD R DOWNWIND TWR CLRED ME TO LAND, ADVISED THERE WOULD BE ONE DEP PRIOR TO MY ARR. TWR CLRED ONE ACFT FOR TKOF AND I TURNED BASE TO LAND. TWR THEN CLRED A SECOND ACFT Y ON RWY IN POS AND HOLD AS I TURNED FINAL (APPROX 1 MI FINAL). COMBINATION OF HEAVY RADIO TFC AND A STUCK MIKE BY UNIDENTED ACFT PROHIBITED ME FROM QUESTIONING TWR ACTION. ACFT Y ON RWY BEGAN TKOF ROLL AND TWR TRIED TO CANCEL TKOF CLRNC BUT PLT CONTINUED TKOF. CLR FREQ TIME ENABLED ME TO DECLARE GO-AROUND. I WAS NOW 'BOXED IN' BY ACFT ON TKOF CLB AND R DOWNWIND TFC. AS TWR ADVISED ME TO FLY R SIDE OF RWY. TWR ADVISED TO TURN L BEHIND ACFT Y ON CLB OUT. I ENTERED L TFC AND LANDED W/O INCIDENT. 2 INDIVIDUALS WERE 'WORKING' TWR FREQ AND I WAS ADVISED, ONCE ON THE GND, THAT TRNING WAS TAKING PLACE. THE ARPT WAS QUITE BUSY. NOT A NEAR MISS BUT CLOSE TFC CONFLICT! IF TWR WISHED TO DEPART 2 ACFT I COULD'VE EASILY EXTENDED DOWNWIND!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.