DC9 crew on short final, perceive an aircraft to still be on takeoff roll.

Attributes
ACN	497708
Time
Date	200101
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl.airport
State Reference	MO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : stl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : stl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	497708
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	497222
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Company flight XXX was cleared for a visual approach to runway 30L at stl. Upon initial contact with the local tower controller, we were instructed to 'continue' and the flight was continued using normal visual approach procedures and callouts. At approximately 800 ft AGL, we were given clearance to land. At approximately 400-500 ft AGL, the flight crew noticed that an aircraft was still on the runway beginning their takeoff roll. No mention of the aircraft was given to us by ATC, at any time. Flight conditions were clear at night, but the aircraft was not clearly visible against the dark runway. At approximately 300 ft AGL, it was obvious that the aircraft was airborne and that the runway was clear. Flight XXX then landed on runway 30L without incident. It is my opinion that once an aircraft has been cleared to land while on the approach, the tower should notify that aircraft if another aircraft is going to depart that runway prior to landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 CREW ON SHORT FINAL, PERCEIVE AN ACFT TO STILL BE ON TKOF ROLL.

Narrative: COMPANY FLT XXX WAS CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 30L AT STL. UPON INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE LCL TWR CTLR, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO 'CONTINUE' AND THE FLT WAS CONTINUED USING NORMAL VISUAL APCH PROCS AND CALLOUTS. AT APPROX 800 FT AGL, WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO LAND. AT APPROX 400-500 FT AGL, THE FLC NOTICED THAT AN ACFT WAS STILL ON THE RWY BEGINNING THEIR TKOF ROLL. NO MENTION OF THE ACFT WAS GIVEN TO US BY ATC, AT ANY TIME. FLT CONDITIONS WERE CLR AT NIGHT, BUT THE ACFT WAS NOT CLRLY VISIBLE AGAINST THE DARK RWY. AT APPROX 300 FT AGL, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE ACFT WAS AIRBORNE AND THAT THE RWY WAS CLR. FLT XXX THEN LANDED ON RWY 30L WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT IS MY OPINION THAT ONCE AN ACFT HAS BEEN CLRED TO LAND WHILE ON THE APCH, THE TWR SHOULD NOTIFY THAT ACFT IF ANOTHER ACFT IS GOING TO DEPART THAT RWY PRIOR TO LNDG.

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.