Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Human Factors; Aircraft; Weather
While working CIC; ZOA notified us that Aircraft X was [making an urgent landing] due to loss of their alternator. They had 1 soul on board and could possibly lose their transponder on approach. They coordinated opposite direction ILS 32 which was approved. I reached out to ZOA before they set Aircraft X for approach and informed them of the strong tailwind with gusting winds. That they weren't going to be able to land RWY 32. ZOA asked what the ceiling was and it was 007 which was above the circling minimum. On approach we gave Aircraft X the winds and she said she wasn't going to be able to land that RWY. She would need to circle. Aircraft X never got the field in sight. LCL advised that the ceiling was much higher midfield and she'd then be able to circle to land RWY 14 or RWY 20. She then said she was loading up the approach for RWY 2. She never advised us the field in sight or that she was circling. We never saw her and LCL asked her position and she said she was 5 miles out on RWY 2. We immediately informed ZOA. She then said she was in IMC setting up for RWY 2 and she was getting blown around by the strong winds. I thought I heard LCL ask if she could start her missed approach for RWY 32 at her current position. But after reviewing the tapes; LCL asked if she wanted to go back to Center which she replied with yes. ZOA thought she was on the missed and said to have her climb to 070. But she was on a 070 heading not on the published missed approach. Aircraft X got vectored back for RNAV RWY 14 and landed safely without incident. Airport authorities were notified with an alert 2. I would have recommended LCL to advise Aircraft X if she could start a missed approach.
STS Tower Controller reported an aircraft coming into land with alternator problems; attempting to land opposite direction with low ceilings and windy.