Small Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft X was a VFR arrival from the NW of OAK taken from Norcal Tracon.  Aircraft X was instructed to proceed to the coliseum for right traffic Rwy 28R at 2000ft for traffic; because I had another aircraft departing OAK on a right downwind at 1500ft.  After the conflict was resolved I instructed Aircraft X to 'Continue downwind to lose altitude; turn base your discretion cleared to land Rwy 28R'.  When Aircraft X turned base he actually made a left 360 where he should have made a right base turn for Rwy28R.  I let this go because I had no other traffic in the area. As he completed the left 360; Aircraft X reported Runway in sight.  I then noticed his landing lights were passing Rwy 28R where he should have been turning for landing so I let it continue thinking he was landing Rwy 28L.  I did not want to correct the aircraft in a critical phase of flight thinking he had already made a non standard base turn and had missed Rwy 28R.  I then noticed Aircraft X was not turning base for Rwy 28L and was lined up to land on Taxiway Bravo.  I then ran to Ground Control 1 to make sure no vehicles/aircraft were on Taxiway Bravo and let Aircraft X land.  In my judgment; if I were to try to correct the aircraft or send him around he may have hit one of many high light poles we had along taxiway bravo or sent him on a go around towards an active Runway 30 that had departures and arrivals.Wanted to share for wide dissemination.
An OAK Local Controller reports his reasons for allowing an aircraft to land on a taxiway that he was controlling.