Small Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Human Factors; Staffing
TRACAB [Terminal Radar Approach Control in Tower Cab] configuration for chronic staffing problem and to achieve training. I was CIC and Local Control; AR to the right and Ground Control training to the left. Traffic was mod-heavy. For all positions. Distraction is always a problem during TRACAB ops.I had 5-6 airplanes on frequency; 4 in the pattern and 1 Opposite Direction Operations (ODO) and another ODO enroute for VFR practice approaches. DBRITE was NOT available due to arrival working a 60 NM range airspace using it.Aircraft X had been doing touch and goes for a while; and turned his base without my sequence; and without asking; and clearly there was an aircraft on final (or perhaps maybe there was an aircraft on final because he knew he had 3 of his company aircraft in the pattern that he had been sequenced with before) that he got closed to approx. 1/2 mile. Pilot turned before he was given clearance from what I can remember; and when I realized it I gave him his sequence and then I could see him spaced himself well.This came up on from a TARP [Traffic Analysis and Review Program] review; 1 month later! I did not report it because the situation I believe was resolved. Pilot action contributed to this event; and watching a falcon replay and hind sight situation is much easier than actually working 5-6 real airplanes! I take responsibility for my part on what happened; I was busy with 5-6 airplanes clumped up together on the DBRITE and TRACAB configuration and DBRITE in a 60 NM range.I feel that after reading the PRC [review] written from this TARP; the threat of 'this shouldn't happen again' is a threat and I feel I HAVE TO PERFORM perfect all the time or else. And to ask that of me and all of us controllers here at HUF without considering the fact that we are always put in an unsafe situation working these type of traffic many times without AN EQUIPMENT and PROPER STAFFING first undermine safety; and the well-being and moral of the facility.Fix the staffing issue.Occasional meeting with tenant flight TRAINING academy. Appreciate your controllers more.
HUF Local Controller reported of staffing issues that were blamed for the operational error of an aircraft turning base before it was supposed to.