Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Developmental
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance
Aircraft; Airport; Company Policy; Human Factors
I was working combined Local and Ground control. I had one VFR aircraft in the traffic pattern; and one VFR aircraft doing a run-up; holding short of the runway. Approach control informed me of an inbound IFR Aircraft; who upon reporting a 10 mile final; will be shipped to me. Relief came and I informed the relieving controller of the two VFR aircraft and the inbound IFR Aircraft who will be shipped over on a 10 mile final. During the overlap period; I observed the Aircraft rolling out on the runway; still on Approach frequency and without a landing clearance. The Aircraft had missed his 10 mile final report with Approach.Tower and Approach control are entirely NON-RADAR. Approach relies on pilot reports of position in order to pass traffic to the next controller. There was no way to observe the Aircraft missing his report. Scanning helps; but the white Aircraft was difficult to see with clouds behind him. When you can see the aircraft; it is often just a few miles from the airport; which may be close enough to interfere with aircraft in the traffic pattern. This facility needs a form of Radar or surveillance to eliminate the need for pilot reports; which are often bad; incomplete; or missing.
During descent we were advised to proceed direct to [the] IAF on the ILS-Z Approach. Descending through approximately 14;000 feet we advised the approach controller that the airport was in sight. We were told to continue on the present heading until below 12;000 feet and then turn to the final approach course. During this process we noticed that our COM 1 radio appeared to have failed. At approximately the same time we received a query from the controller asking whether we had UHF COM equipment on board. As a crew we were both confused and distracted by the simultaneous COM1 problem and query about UHF COM equipment. Very shortly afterward we landed; and the ground controller asked us to call the tower for a possible pilot deviation. During the telephone discussion; we were informed that we had landed without a landing clearance.
Controllers and a Corporate pilot reported the pilot landed without a clearance.