Narrative:

I was working the local position when small aircraft X a C172, was inbound to runway 5 on a practice ILS, in sight. Military Y, 4/F16's were in position and hold on runway 23 when I elected to clear them for takeoff with departure turn to 180 degrees. Since X was on a 10 mi final at the time, I estimated that enough space existed to accomplish the departure safely, and intended to turn X if the need arose. The F16's were slow to depart and after departure, flew upwind approximately 1 mi before making the left turn. At this point I forgot that X was on my frequency and I failed, in a timely manner, to take steps to establish communication with the aircraft. By the time all F16's were established on the 180 degree heading, X was inside the OM. In the future I would wait until the approach aircraft has completed the approach before launching the F16's. It would also help if the F16's would advise us if any delay is expected after taking the runway. It was 2 1/2 mins from the time takeoff clearance was issued until all aircraft were established on the 180 degree.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X ON APCH HAD LTSS FROM MIL Y OPPOSITE DIRECTION DEP. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE LCL POS WHEN SMA X A C172, WAS INBOUND TO RWY 5 ON A PRACTICE ILS, IN SIGHT. MIL Y, 4/F16'S WERE IN POS AND HOLD ON RWY 23 WHEN I ELECTED TO CLR THEM FOR TKOF WITH DEP TURN TO 180 DEGS. SINCE X WAS ON A 10 MI FINAL AT THE TIME, I ESTIMATED THAT ENOUGH SPACE EXISTED TO ACCOMPLISH THE DEP SAFELY, AND INTENDED TO TURN X IF THE NEED AROSE. THE F16'S WERE SLOW TO DEPART AND AFTER DEP, FLEW UPWIND APPROX 1 MI BEFORE MAKING THE L TURN. AT THIS POINT I FORGOT THAT X WAS ON MY FREQ AND I FAILED, IN A TIMELY MANNER, TO TAKE STEPS TO ESTABLISH COM WITH THE ACFT. BY THE TIME ALL F16'S WERE ESTABLISHED ON THE 180 DEG HDG, X WAS INSIDE THE OM. IN THE FUTURE I WOULD WAIT UNTIL THE APCH ACFT HAS COMPLETED THE APCH BEFORE LAUNCHING THE F16'S. IT WOULD ALSO HELP IF THE F16'S WOULD ADVISE US IF ANY DELAY IS EXPECTED AFTER TAKING THE RWY. IT WAS 2 1/2 MINS FROM THE TIME TKOF CLRNC WAS ISSUED UNTIL ALL ACFT WERE ESTABLISHED ON THE 180 DEG.

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.