Light Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 4
Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure; Staffing
At the time of the event I had been on duty four hours and during that time was only able to be on break for 31 minutes. There were 3 controllers on duty; two CPC's and one radar only controller. Due to the staffing we were spending nearly two hours on position every time; and myself and the other CPC would have to immediately slide over and relieve the local controller as soon as we were relieved from approach control. Due to the staffing we were working a TRACAB operation. After conducting OJTI on local and ground combined; I took a short break; approximately 10 minutes; before I was assigned to relieve the radar controller. After working radar for approximately an hour I was relieved from radar and instructed to relieve local without taking a break. I received the briefing for local with Aircraft X in the pattern and Aircraft Y ready for VFR departure on an intersecting runway. I observed Aircraft X on what I thought was the upwind off of Runway 14; I cleared Aircraft Y for takeoff on the intersecting runway. Aircraft X advised they were actually on final for Runway 32 and asked if they needed to hold short of the intersecting runway. I cleared Aircraft X to land and hold short of the runway Aircraft Y was departing from. Due to the late LAHSO clearance I was unable to exchange traffic using the correct phraseology for LAHSO operations. There was no loss of separation or runway incursion; but it was a crappy situation for all involved. The fact that Aircraft X was paying attention; and as a locally based aircraft is familiar with our operations; is the only thing that prevented a loss of separation / runway incursion.We desperately need to schedule better staffing. Going from working approach to sliding over and immediately working local; without a break; is bad practice. Even a short break to clear your thoughts and change from the approach control mindset to the local control mindset would be beneficial. We are creating an unsafe situation by intentionally scheduling the bare minimum staffing that allows the facility to stay open.
Controller reports facility staffing issues and working combined positions contributed to a probable loss of separation/runway incursion situation that was prevented by timely questioning of clearance by a locally familiar pilot.