A Tower Ground Control trainee and their instructor reported the instructor did not notice the trainee assign conflicting taxi routes to two aircraft resulting in one of the aircraft taking evasive action.
Synopsis
A Tower Ground Control trainee and their instructor reported the instructor did not notice the trainee assign conflicting taxi routes to two aircraft resulting in one of the aircraft taking evasive action.
Narrative
Training my CPC-IT on Ground Control (GC) we taxied Aircraft X via [Taxiway] 1-2-3 to [Runway] XXL. At the top of the alley west line there was an Aircraft Y that the CPC-IT taxied left on 4; with no traffic call to give way to Aircraft X. At the time I had my attention on the north side of the airfield. I heard the transmission the CPC-IT made but since I was looking to the north; I did not immediately asses the instruction he gave. When I turned back to face the 2/4 intersection I saw Aircraft Y crossing very closely in front of Aircraft X. Aircraft X stopped to let Aircraft Y pass; and then the pilot commented that Aircraft Y had cut them off; almost clipping their nose. The CPC-IT apologized on frequency admitting fault for the missed traffic call. The two aircraft went on to depart without further incident.The CPC-IT I was working with is doing very well and I probably allowed that to relax my focus to some extent; however; it is not possible to simultaneously scan the north airfield; where multiple runway crossings are taking place; and the south side traffic leaving the alleys. This limitation will result in something getting missed from time to time. Perhaps instituting a regular 3rd Ground Control position could help alleviate this problem.
Second reporter narrative
I am a CPC-IT that was training on this outbound ground position. Aircraft X was taxing to Runway XXL at 1 via Taxiway 2 for departure as instructed by me. I gave taxi instructions to Aircraft Y out of the alley to Runway XC a XY via left turn on [Taxiway] 4. I was switching other aircraft to their appropriate Tower frequencies and did not notice and expect Aircraft Y to taxi out that quick and turn left on [Taxiway] 4 from [Runway] XXY. At the same time Aircraft X has reached [Taxiway] 2 and was crossing the 4 taxiway with Aircraft Y going in front of him. Aircraft X pilot keyed up saying that Aircraft Y cut them off on [Taxiway] 4 at 2. Both of those aircraft were on my frequency and I told them that it was my fault and I missed a traffic call.Aircraft X should have been instructed to cross [Taxiway] 4 behind Aircraft Y. Aircraft X did not appear to want to slow down and tried to get in front of the Aircraft Y. As I saw that happening another aircraft was in the middle of their read back to me. I did not think keying up over the read back would have gotten thru to any of these two that were a factor and possibly avoiding a close situation. I would recommend to be more vigilant of this intersection on our airfield and scan more frequently to avoid another close call. Also look ahead and tell those that cross Taxiway 4 to cross behind the traffic before they reach that point on the airfield.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.