Ground control cleared aircraft to taxi across active runway without coordination with local controller. Small aircraft was landing as aircraft taxied across runway.

Narrative

Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.

Traffic was moderate to heavy. I had small aircraft crossing over the landing threshold, touching down when I observed an aircraft crossing the runway downfield. The arrival was on the runway and slowing down before the aircraft cleared the runway.

I asked ground what happened and received no reply. I did not at any time approve the crossing. No action was taken concerning this situation. It was not conceivable to have the small aircraft go around at time of occurrence. The CIC at time of the occurrence did not feel the situation warranted action.

I later found out that the pilot of the aircraft which had permission from ground control to cross was also upset as he noticed the small aircraft rolling out on the runway. The following day he advised the CIC that he was going to file a report regarding the incident.