Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Weather; Procedure
Runway's XXR; YYL and YYR were closed. Taxiway Bravo was also NOTAM'ed closed. It is common practice at this airport to use closed surfaces as runway exits. I was working Local Control and a CRJ2 was inbound. I issued him the Braking Action on Runway XXL; which had been reported as FAIR by a SW4; 30 minutes prior. I then reissued the current MU's. The CRJ2 landed without incident. I told the aircraft to turn left Taxiway Bravo and contact Ground. The CRJ2 came to a full stop on the runway and then made the right turn onto Bravo Taxiway. He contacted Ground and reported joining Alpha. Ground gave him taxi instructions via Alpha; Foxtrot with braking action report. The CRJ2 was unable to make the turn and continued straight ahead onto Bravo. Ground issued Braking Action Nil. Aircraft ended up perpendicular on the taxiway; due to the ice. Note: SW4 that had landed prior to the CRJ2 had exited at Bravo with no issues. It is a past practice at this airport to use closed surfaces as turn-offs; this has been approved by Airport Operations. It was still dark when the CRJ2 exited the runway. I can only suggest that if Airport Operations does not want us to use a turn off; then they need to specifically close a turn off; or tell us that it had not been sanded.
[Narrative #2 had no additional information.]
Tower Controller described the failure of an inbound air carrier to maneuver on a taxiway due to NIL braking action. Additional reporters; controllers; and pilots provided other variations of the incident.