Narrative:

I was had just decombined the flight data/ground control positions from local control. During my scan of the movement area I observed a C172 taking corrective action to avoid a potential collision with a PA28 on short final for runway 23. I later found out by discussing with the controller involved that the PA28 had cut the C172 out on the final leg for runway 23. During my discussion with the local controller I also found out that the PA28 did not follow instructions regarding pattern entry and did not receive a landing clearance.lafayette air traffic control tower does not have a radar display in the cab. We sequence aircraft based on position reports given by the pilot and by visual observation of their location in the pattern. Often times it is hard to see aircraft (especially when they do not follow directions and are not where you anticipate them to be - as in the case with the PA28). I have been certified in a tower with radar and I am confident based on my experience that this situation would have immediately been observed by ATC and corrected before it became a near collision if there was a radar display in the tower cab. I have been advised that radar data is currently available to the ground at lafayette from gus approach; however no display has been installed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller reported that when an aircraft did not follow instructions to follow traffic; an airborne conflict resulted.

Narrative: I was had just decombined the Flight Data/Ground Control positions from Local Control. During my scan of the movement area I observed a C172 taking corrective action to avoid a potential collision with a PA28 on short final for Runway 23. I later found out by discussing with the Controller involved that the PA28 had cut the C172 out on the final leg for Runway 23. During my discussion with the Local Controller I also found out that the PA28 did not follow instructions regarding pattern entry and did not receive a landing clearance.Lafayette Air Traffic Control Tower does not have a radar display in the cab. We sequence aircraft based on position reports given by the pilot and by visual observation of their location in the pattern. Often times it is hard to see aircraft (especially when they do not follow directions and are not where you anticipate them to be - as in the case with the PA28). I have been certified in a tower with radar and I am confident based on my experience that this situation would have IMMEDIATELY been observed by ATC and corrected before it became a near collision if there was a radar display in the tower Cab. I have been advised that radar data is currently available to the ground at Lafayette from GUS Approach; however no display has been installed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.