Approach to occupied runway evolves into a go around by cpr jet.

Attributes
ACN	280394
Time
Date	199408
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ack
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ack
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	280394
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 100 vertical : 150
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Error

Narrative:

We were cleared to land on approximately 7 mi left base leg. Local controller was very busy with many light aircraft in pattern and waiting for takeoff. As we descended through 400-300 ft, I saw a dark blue or black single engine cessna starting its takeoff roll. Immediately started go around, passed the just airborne cessna on the right and climbed straight ahead awaiting explanation or instructions from local controller. We had to ask what she wanted us to do. Made a right hand circuit and landed without incident. Controller had apparently forgotten about the aircraft on the runway, as we heard no warning about it. The cessna's all-over dark color made it difficult to see on the asphalt runway. Local controller must have been distracted or for some reason lost the awareness of the cessna's apparent late departure. Never received explanation or apology from ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH TO OCCUPIED RWY EVOLVES INTO A GAR BY CPR JET.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO LAND ON APPROX 7 MI L BASE LEG. LCL CTLR WAS VERY BUSY WITH MANY LIGHT ACFT IN PATTERN AND WAITING FOR TKOF. AS WE DSNDED THROUGH 400-300 FT, I SAW A DARK BLUE OR BLACK SINGLE ENG CESSNA STARTING ITS TKOF ROLL. IMMEDIATELY STARTED GAR, PASSED THE JUST AIRBORNE CESSNA ON THE R AND CLBED STRAIGHT AHEAD AWAITING EXPLANATION OR INSTRUCTIONS FROM LCL CTLR. WE HAD TO ASK WHAT SHE WANTED US TO DO. MADE A R HAND CIRCUIT AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. CTLR HAD APPARENTLY FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE ACFT ON THE RWY, AS WE HEARD NO WARNING ABOUT IT. THE CESSNA'S ALL-OVER DARK COLOR MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ON THE ASPHALT RWY. LCL CTLR MUST HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED OR FOR SOME REASON LOST THE AWARENESS OF THE CESSNA'S APPARENT LATE DEP. NEVER RECEIVED EXPLANATION OR APOLOGY FROM ATC.

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.