Ground controller at sjc ATCT receives a conditional clearance from a local controller trainee to cross an active runway. The trainee then clears air carrier traffic for takeoff while ground traffic is crossing the runway.

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Attributes
ACN	451104
Time
Date	199909
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sjc.tower
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : sjc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : private
Experience	controller limited radar : 3 controller non radar : 2 controller time certified in position1 : 3 flight time total : 200
ASRS Report	451104
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local instruction : instructor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance ATC Facility
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I was working ground control, there was training on local control. I asked local control for approval to cross runway 30L at taxiway G to taxiway H. Local control approved the runway crossing behind a departing B737. When the B737 passed, I instructed the cessna caravan to cross runway 30L from taxiway G to taxiway H. As the caravan turned onto the runway, the trainee cleared an air carrier MD80 for takeoff on runway 30L. I told the trainee there was still an aircraft on runway 30L. The trainee said something like 'oh, sorry' but took no corrective action. Finally, the trainer decided to take action and cancelled the air carrier's takeoff clearance. This situation could easily have been avoided if the trainee or trainer had scanned the runway before issuing the takeoff clearance. The supervisor in the tower cabin attendant made no investigation and appears not to have done anything about the incident. This supervisor appears to be covering up all such occurrences. The incident was written up in the training form.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GND CTLR AT SJC ATCT RECEIVES A CONDITIONAL CLRNC FROM A LCL CTLR TRAINEE TO CROSS AN ACTIVE RWY. THE TRAINEE THEN CLRS ACR TFC FOR TKOF WHILE GND TFC IS XING THE RWY.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING GND CTL, THERE WAS TRAINING ON LCL CTL. I ASKED LCL CTL FOR APPROVAL TO CROSS RWY 30L AT TXWY G TO TXWY H. LCL CTL APPROVED THE RWY XING BEHIND A DEPARTING B737. WHEN THE B737 PASSED, I INSTRUCTED THE CESSNA CARAVAN TO CROSS RWY 30L FROM TXWY G TO TXWY H. AS THE CARAVAN TURNED ONTO THE RWY, THE TRAINEE CLRED AN ACR MD80 FOR TKOF ON RWY 30L. I TOLD THE TRAINEE THERE WAS STILL AN ACFT ON RWY 30L. THE TRAINEE SAID SOMETHING LIKE 'OH, SORRY' BUT TOOK NO CORRECTIVE ACTION. FINALLY, THE TRAINER DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION AND CANCELLED THE ACR'S TKOF CLRNC. THIS SIT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE TRAINEE OR TRAINER HAD SCANNED THE RWY BEFORE ISSUING THE TKOF CLRNC. THE SUPVR IN THE TWR CAB MADE NO INVESTIGATION AND APPEARS NOT TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THIS SUPVR APPEARS TO BE COVERING UP ALL SUCH OCCURRENCES. THE INCIDENT WAS WRITTEN UP IN THE TRAINING FORM.

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.