Narrative:

C172RG was on less than a half mi final from runway 33 and was cleared to land while on an approximately 5 mi right base to the runway. It was at this half mi final phase that the tower controller cleared for takeoff a C17 on runway 33. I quickly came over the radio reporting my status and position and was now approximately 1000 ft from the end of the runway at 300 ft MSL. I observed the C17 apply brakes heavily. The nosewheel of the C17 was stopped just past the hold short line. During this process I anticipated executing a go around. I had already applied full power; began my climb; and retracted the gear and 10 degree flaps when the tower told me to execute a right turn and enter right base for runway 3. I continued to climb and began my right turn. The C17 departed and I was then cleared for a 360 degree turn to return to final for runway 33. I feel with the experience of the C17 crew and my experience as a commercial pilot and CFI the situation was handled professionally. I do fear however that if the pilot landing runway 33 would have been a student pilot or newly minted private pilot the outcome would not have been favorable. I feel that the main contributing factor was that on a severe VMC day the controller merely temporarily lost situational awareness of the C172 being cleared to land 5 mi out. It was due to all 3 parties that the outcome of this situation was not grim.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT ON SHORT FINAL EXECUTED GAR TO AVOID ACFT ENTERING RWY FOR TKOF.

Narrative: C172RG WAS ON LESS THAN A HALF MI FINAL FROM RWY 33 AND WAS CLRED TO LAND WHILE ON AN APPROX 5 MI R BASE TO THE RWY. IT WAS AT THIS HALF MI FINAL PHASE THAT THE TWR CTLR CLRED FOR TKOF A C17 ON RWY 33. I QUICKLY CAME OVER THE RADIO RPTING MY STATUS AND POS AND WAS NOW APPROX 1000 FT FROM THE END OF THE RWY AT 300 FT MSL. I OBSERVED THE C17 APPLY BRAKES HEAVILY. THE NOSEWHEEL OF THE C17 WAS STOPPED JUST PAST THE HOLD SHORT LINE. DURING THIS PROCESS I ANTICIPATED EXECUTING A GAR. I HAD ALREADY APPLIED FULL PWR; BEGAN MY CLB; AND RETRACTED THE GEAR AND 10 DEG FLAPS WHEN THE TWR TOLD ME TO EXECUTE A R TURN AND ENTER R BASE FOR RWY 3. I CONTINUED TO CLB AND BEGAN MY R TURN. THE C17 DEPARTED AND I WAS THEN CLRED FOR A 360 DEG TURN TO RETURN TO FINAL FOR RWY 33. I FEEL WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF THE C17 CREW AND MY EXPERIENCE AS A COMMERCIAL PLT AND CFI THE SITUATION WAS HANDLED PROFESSIONALLY. I DO FEAR HOWEVER THAT IF THE PLT LNDG RWY 33 WOULD HAVE BEEN A STUDENT PLT OR NEWLY MINTED PVT PLT THE OUTCOME WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FAVORABLE. I FEEL THAT THE MAIN CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THAT ON A SEVERE VMC DAY THE CTLR MERELY TEMPORARILY LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF THE C172 BEING CLRED TO LAND 5 MI OUT. IT WAS DUE TO ALL 3 PARTIES THAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS SITUATION WAS NOT GRIM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.