Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors
I was working Ground Control. A C172 was a student pilot who began his taxi instructions to Runway 23 via Taxiway 'B' 'A' cross Runway 31. As the C172 approached Taxiway 'A'; he passed 'A' and held short of Runway 23. I advised the C172 he was supposed to go to Runway 23 and told the C172 to hold short of Runway 23. At this time Local Control had already cleared a C182; for take off on Runway 23. The C182 began his departure roll. The C172 did not respond and continued taxi and Crossed Runway 23 the active runway. I told the C172 to hold position and stop multiple times. I advised the Local Controller and he cancelled the C182's take off clearance and aborted take off. At this time I and the Local Controller were calling out to the C172 and neither of us got any answers. Finally the C172 checked on with the Local Controller after numerous calls. The Local Controller issued the Brasher warning and advised the C172 to taxi back to the ramp. The C172 then went back to me on Ground Control and was advised to contact the Tower. Student pilots are always nervous but should try to be taught better to listen to the frequency and always listen for their call signs.
I was taxiing and in touch with Ground Control. Ground told me to taxi to Runway 23 via Bravo Alpha and to cross Runway 13/31 and I proceeded to Runway 31 while crossing Runway 23. I had stopped before the hold short line and put on my strobes and continued to cross Runway 23. I had not heard Ground trying to get in touch with me although previously in contact with them. I proceeded to Runway 31 and did my run-up; held short of the runway and contacted Tower. Upon contacting Tower I was told that I had made a pilot deviation. I was instructed to stay on Tower frequency and to taxi back to my ramp. To prevent this from happening again; I am currently taking an online course on runway incursion safety and radio communications. I also realize that the radio shouldn't have been silent on a busy day at the airport; so I should have trusted my initial instinct of checking to make sure I heard radio communications.
A Ground Controller described an unauthorized runway crossing by a student pilot who apparently confused both the taxi instructions to the active runway and the hold short directives.