PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors
The Aircraft X was on about a 2 mile final for Runway 4R. Aircraft Y was on downwind for Runway 4R. I told Aircraft Y to continue on the downwind and I would call his base. I had numerous aircraft on frequency and Aircraft Y did not respond. I had other transmissions to make. I failed to go back to Aircraft Y and get a verification that he would actually continue in the downwind. I had planned on him being number three. This is obviously the beginning of the event. Aircraft Y turned base and was flying directly toward Aircraft X on final. When I saw this I told Aircraft X to execute a right 360; I actually meant to tell Aircraft Y to execute the 360. Aircraft X executed a right turn to the southeast; and Aircraft Y also executed a 360 although he was not given instruction to do so. Even though I told Aircraft X to execute the turn instead of Aircraft Y; this would have resolved the issue if Aircraft Y had just turned to final as he would have been behind Aircraft X. When Aircraft Y made the right 360 on his own he came in an even closer proximity to Aircraft X. Management told me Aircraft X was the pilot that questioned the event. Both aircraft were directed back the downwind and sequenced to the Runway 4R and landed without further incident. I need to make sure I get confirmation of instructions from all aircraft; that was my mistake; and I need to be more accurate with my instructions; although my inadvertent plan was better than my initial plan. I don't know what to do about student pilots making panic maneuvers on their own.
Traffic was steady; but not overly busy. The Local Control 1 Controller continued to stare at the STARS scope; rather than watching the aircraft out the window. Aircraft Y was instructed by Local Control 1 to extend downwind; but Local Control 1 did not receive a readback on this. Aircraft X was on final for Runway 4R. I was on Ground Control at the time of the occurrence and busy talking to traffic taxiing out for departure. Local Control 1 gave an instruction to an aircraft to line up and wait on Runway 4R. I looked up and observed an Archer (later to be identified as Aircraft Y) on a right base; heading straight toward a Warrior on final (later to be identified as Aircraft X). As CIC; I brought this conflict to the attention of the individual on Local Control 1. The Controller on Local Control 1 instructed Aircraft X to begin a left turn back towards the downwind. I quickly instructed Local Control 1 to give him a right 360; since he was on base and giving him a left turn would only put these two aircraft right in the same vicinity again. Local Control 1 instructed Aircraft X to make a right 360; but as they began their turn; Local Control 1 realized he had been speaking to the incorrect aircraft. He had meant to instruct Aircraft Y to make the turn; but instead; turned the aircraft on final directly towards the one on base; causing the one on base to be forced to perform what I believe to be evasive maneuvers in order to avoid collision. I told him to have Aircraft Y IDENT; so we could figure out which aircraft was which. Once Aircraft Y IDENTED; I had a clear understanding of what was happening. Aircraft X flew to the east to get out of the way and was then instructed to turn back towards the right base for Runway 4R. As Local Control 1 started to give a landing clearance to Aircraft Y (who was now on final); I instructed him that he still had an aircraft holding in position. He then sent Aircraft Y around; waited for him to get to the midfield point; and then instructed the aircraft on the runway to takeoff. Both Aircraft Y and Aircraft X landed on Runway 4R safely a few minutes later. This incident; in my opinion; was due to a lack of proficiency on the part of the Local Control 1 Controller. Traffic was not overly busy; but he was unable to take positive control of the situation; forcing me; as CIC; to tell him exactly what to do in order to get things under control. The Local Control 1 Controller at this time was recently re-certified. In my experience watching this individual; he is not completely aware of his surroundings much of the time and requires a large amount of supervision any time he is on Local Control.
Tower Controller described a pattern conflict event when issuing a circle instruction to the wrong aircraft followed immediately by a circle initiated by a second aircraft compounding the conflict.