Narrative:

Jfk landing VOR runway 13L, departing runway 13R. Aircraft #1 cleared to land runway 13L. Aircraft #2 instructed to taxi into position and hold runway 13R, then cleared for takeoff. At that moment, I observed aircraft #1 on short final for runway 13R. I instructed aircraft #1 to go around, with aircraft #2 either off or partially on runway 13R. Aircraft #2 had not begun takeoff roll and had stopped. I instructed them to hold position. During its second approach, I cleared aircraft #1 to land runway 13L. I placed all lights for runway 13L on step 5, and turned off runway 13R VASI. Aircraft #1 again turned final for runway 13R. As there was an H/A310 in position on runway 13R, I instructed aircraft #1 to go around. Aircraft #1 crew appeared 'flustered,' as they appeared to track heading 090 degrees when instructed to turn right 180 degrees. During third approach, I kept all runways clear and aircraft landed runway 13L. Historically, foreign carriers have had trouble with language barriers -- especially asian carriers. Fatigue resulting from 2 quick turn-arounds and complacency resulted in my not scanning the final when clearing aircraft #2 for takeoff. I put false trust in aircraft #1 doing what they were cleared to do, which obviously they did not.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR REALIZES B747 ON SHORT FINAL HAS LINED UP TO LAND ON WRONG RWY AFTER CLRING B747 FOR TKOF ON SAME RWY.

Narrative: JFK LNDG VOR RWY 13L, DEPARTING RWY 13R. ACFT #1 CLRED TO LAND RWY 13L. ACFT #2 INSTRUCTED TO TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD RWY 13R, THEN CLRED FOR TKOF. AT THAT MOMENT, I OBSERVED ACFT #1 ON SHORT FINAL FOR RWY 13R. I INSTRUCTED ACFT #1 TO GO AROUND, WITH ACFT #2 EITHER OFF OR PARTIALLY ON RWY 13R. ACFT #2 HAD NOT BEGUN TKOF ROLL AND HAD STOPPED. I INSTRUCTED THEM TO HOLD POS. DURING ITS SECOND APCH, I CLRED ACFT #1 TO LAND RWY 13L. I PLACED ALL LIGHTS FOR RWY 13L ON STEP 5, AND TURNED OFF RWY 13R VASI. ACFT #1 AGAIN TURNED FINAL FOR RWY 13R. AS THERE WAS AN H/A310 IN POS ON RWY 13R, I INSTRUCTED ACFT #1 TO GO AROUND. ACFT #1 CREW APPEARED 'FLUSTERED,' AS THEY APPEARED TO TRACK HDG 090 DEGS WHEN INSTRUCTED TO TURN R 180 DEGS. DURING THIRD APCH, I KEPT ALL RWYS CLR AND ACFT LANDED RWY 13L. HISTORICALLY, FOREIGN CARRIERS HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH LANGUAGE BARRIERS -- ESPECIALLY ASIAN CARRIERS. FATIGUE RESULTING FROM 2 QUICK TURN-AROUNDS AND COMPLACENCY RESULTED IN MY NOT SCANNING THE FINAL WHEN CLRING ACFT #2 FOR TKOF. I PUT FALSE TRUST IN ACFT #1 DOING WHAT THEY WERE CLRED TO DO, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THEY DID NOT.

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.