Slc controller experienced operational error by issuing wrong turn to departure into higher terrain.

Attributes
ACN	618305
Time
Date	200405
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc.airport
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : slc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller non radar : 5 controller radar : 3 controller time certified in position2 : 2
ASRS Report	618305
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While working the local position, I cleared aircraft X for takeoff and issued a right turn instead of a left turn. I failed to observe the turn visually and told him to contact departure who then turned him back to the left. The aircraft entered an 8000 ft MVA at 7000 ft and climbed through it in the turn.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SLC CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR BY ISSUING WRONG TURN TO DEP INTO HIGHER TERRAIN.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING THE LCL POS, I CLRED ACFT X FOR TKOF AND ISSUED A R TURN INSTEAD OF A L TURN. I FAILED TO OBSERVE THE TURN VISUALLY AND TOLD HIM TO CONTACT DEP WHO THEN TURNED HIM BACK TO THE L. THE ACFT ENTERED AN 8000 FT MVA AT 7000 FT AND CLBED THROUGH IT IN THE TURN.

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.