Narrative:

Btr was lifr [low instrument flight rules]; VV002 and vis was 1/4. Aircraft Y was taxied to RWY13 via echo--bravo without issue. Aircraft X was taxied to runway 13 using the same route. The ground controller kept aircraft X on a short leash and issued multiple hold short and reporting instructions. Aircraft X was first told to hold short of bravo. Aircraft X reported holding short of bravo and was told to make a left onto bravo and hold short of runway 22L at bravo. Ground control received the crossing from me (local controller) and crossed aircraft X across rwys 22L and 22R; and aircraft X reported across runway 22R. Aircraft Y called ready at [runway] 13. I instructed aircraft Y to hold short of [runway] 13 and stated I wanted to verify the position of another aircraft one more time. Ground control confirmed that aircraft X was established on bravo. I cleared aircraft Y for takeoff. After aircraft Y departed; aircraft X reported that he was sitting at echo/echo 1. In order for aircraft X to be at echo/echo 1; aircraft X never made the turn onto bravo and never crossed the parallel runways; but crossed the active; runway 13; [which] aircraft Y departed from. The ground controller issued a brasher warning and taxied aircraft X to runway 22R since that would be the easiest/closest runway to depart from.btr has had multiple issues with incursions. As part of the lsc [local safety council] that just got updated; [it] recommended to the airport that their vehicle/mower operator numbers be simplified; which they did. [Also]; on each controller's birth month; each controller gets an airfield tour by airport ops. We received word from aji [safety and technical training] [that] we did everything that we could have to prevent this; yet it still happened. The pilot never admitted that they were lost. They lied to the ground control when they reported being on the expected taxiway at least 3 times. The pilot needs to be held to the same standard that we are and at a minimum; needs to have their license suspended. I would recommend going through ground school again. It is the weekend warrior that has posed the most danger.since btr is in the top 5 for [runway] incursions; I would recommend asde [airport surface detection equipment] as well; [I'm] not holding my breath. I would also recommend 'wig wags' at every intersection and in-ground flashing lights at every intersection. During our lsc discussions; it has been stated that we are lucky that we haven't knocked somebody out of the sky. This was by far the closest I have ever come and it wasn't because of something that we did as controllers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BTR Tower Controller reported a runway incursion due to weather and pilot not following correct taxi instructions which could have ended in a disaster.

Narrative: BTR was LIFR [Low Instrument Flight Rules]; VV002 and Vis was 1/4. Aircraft Y was taxied to RWY13 via Echo--Bravo without issue. Aircraft X was taxied to RWY 13 using the same route. The Ground Controller kept Aircraft X on a short leash and issued multiple hold short and reporting instructions. Aircraft X was first told to hold short of Bravo. Aircraft X reported holding short of Bravo and was told to make a left onto Bravo and hold short of RWY 22L at Bravo. Ground Control received the crossing from me (Local Controller) and crossed Aircraft X across RWYs 22L and 22R; and Aircraft X reported across RWY 22R. Aircraft Y called ready at [Runway] 13. I instructed Aircraft Y to hold short of [Runway] 13 and stated I wanted to verify the position of another aircraft one more time. Ground Control confirmed that Aircraft X was established on Bravo. I cleared Aircraft Y for takeoff. After Aircraft Y departed; Aircraft X reported that he was sitting at Echo/Echo 1. In order for Aircraft X to be at Echo/Echo 1; Aircraft X never made the turn onto Bravo and never crossed the parallel runways; but crossed the active; RWY 13; [which] Aircraft Y departed from. The Ground Controller issued a Brasher Warning and taxied Aircraft X to RWY 22R since that would be the easiest/closest runway to depart from.BTR has had multiple issues with incursions. As part of the LSC [Local Safety Council] that just got updated; [it] recommended to the airport that their vehicle/mower operator numbers be simplified; which they did. [Also]; on each controller's birth month; each controller gets an airfield tour by Airport Ops. We received word from AJI [Safety and Technical Training] [that] we did everything that we could have to prevent this; yet it still happened. The pilot never admitted that they were lost. They lied to the Ground Control when they reported being on the expected taxiway at least 3 times. The pilot needs to be held to the same standard that we are and at a minimum; needs to have their license suspended. I would recommend going through ground school again. It is the weekend warrior that has posed the most danger.Since BTR is in the Top 5 for [Runway] incursions; I would recommend ASDE [Airport Surface Detection Equipment] as well; [I'm] not holding my breath. I would also recommend 'wig wags' at every intersection and in-ground flashing lights at every intersection. During our LSC discussions; it has been stated that we are lucky that we haven't knocked somebody out of the sky. This was by far the closest I have ever come and it wasn't because of something that we did as controllers.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.