ATCT local controller relieved another controller on the position and was briefed on a vehicle abeam...

Attributes
ACN	360368
Time
Date	199702
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gjt
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar pilot : private
ASRS Report	360368
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I relieved the local controller. He indicated he did not have traffic and stated 'mobile X is abeam the tower' and left the cabin attendant. I observed mobile X on the north side of runway, but because the runway surface is curved it appeared as though mobile X was off the runway on the sod traveling east. I later cleared a commuter air carrier flight for departure on runway 11. After the aircraft was airborne I noticed mobile X on the departure end of the runway. This controller should have been more specific and stated that mobile X was on the runway and not abeam the tower. Because this individual at one time stated, 'I want you to know that if you sabotage our efforts to get radar and we don't get radar we will hold it against you and you may not be working here any more.' I believe this may have been an intentional inadequate briefing. The supervisor has admitted to having a personal (good) relationship with this idiot just like the other idiot who tried to set me up on position when this tower had non radar approach control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATCT LCL CTLR RELIEVED ANOTHER CTLR ON THE POS AND WAS BRIEFED ON A VEHICLE ABEAM THE TWR. THE NEW CTLR SAW THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS ON THE RWY AND CLRED A COMMUTER ACFT FOR TKOF. AFTER THE ACFT TOOK OFF THE RPTR REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE RWY AND BLAMES THE CTLR HE RELIEVED FOR AN INCOMPLETE BRIEFING.

Narrative: I RELIEVED THE LCL CTLR. HE INDICATED HE DID NOT HAVE TFC AND STATED 'MOBILE X IS ABEAM THE TWR' AND LEFT THE CAB. I OBSERVED MOBILE X ON THE N SIDE OF RWY, BUT BECAUSE THE RWY SURFACE IS CURVED IT APPEARED AS THOUGH MOBILE X WAS OFF THE RWY ON THE SOD TRAVELING E. I LATER CLRED A COMMUTER ACR FLT FOR DEP ON RWY 11. AFTER THE ACFT WAS AIRBORNE I NOTICED MOBILE X ON THE DEP END OF THE RWY. THIS CTLR SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC AND STATED THAT MOBILE X WAS ON THE RWY AND NOT ABEAM THE TWR. BECAUSE THIS INDIVIDUAL AT ONE TIME STATED, 'I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU SABOTAGE OUR EFFORTS TO GET RADAR AND WE DON'T GET RADAR WE WILL HOLD IT AGAINST YOU AND YOU MAY NOT BE WORKING HERE ANY MORE.' I BELIEVE THIS MAY HAVE BEEN AN INTENTIONAL INADEQUATE BRIEFING. THE SUPVR HAS ADMITTED TO HAVING A PERSONAL (GOOD) RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS IDIOT JUST LIKE THE OTHER IDIOT WHO TRIED TO SET ME UP ON POS WHEN THIS TWR HAD NON RADAR APCH CTL.

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.