PA-44 Seminole/Turbo Seminole
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types
General Declared Emergency
Human Factors; Procedure
A PA44 reported [the airport] in sight; and was given a visual approach clearance into [the airport]. I observed the PA44 descend through 008; and then climb back to 017. The PA44 checked back on and stated that [the airport] was NOTAMed closed. We agreed that neither of us had been made aware of this closure. The PA44 stated that he was in communication with someone at [the airport] on UNICOM frequency; he was declaring an emergency; and would be landing [the airport]. I reported all this information to the FLM. Make sure that appropriate coordination is accomplished when airports are NOTAMed closed.
Enroute Controller issued a Visual Approach clearance to a non-towered airport only to discover that the airport had been NOTAMed closed.