Narrative:

Ny approach called and asked if I knew anything about a beacon code (XXXX) 10 mi north of the rbv VOR. I said I did not. Shortly afterwards the pilot called and asked if he should still be on my frequency. At this time I realized that was the aircraft they were calling about. Ny approach said they were watching the aircraft and said he was radar contact. After reviewing the tape, the aircraft checked in on my frequency saying, 'small transport on 124.45.' I did not hear the aircraft and did not acknowledge. The pilot made no attempt to establish 2-WAY radio communications. The aircraft was on a vector because ard VOR was OTS. The data extract off ARTS ii shows that I accepted an automated handoff from another sector of abe approach. I was working at least 6 aircraft at the time. Even though I was busy, I still don't know why I did not hear the aircraft check in on my frequency. The frequency was not congested. The only thing I can think that distracted me was I had an aircraft ghosting all over my scope. No evasive action was required, and the aircraft never came within 5 mi of another IFR aircraft. More vigilance on my part could have prevented this occurrence from happening. Also, if the pilot would have called me back to establish 2-WAY communications, this may have got my attention. He had ample chance to do so.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR ACCEPTED RADAR HANDOFF ON IFR ACFT, THEN FORGOT ABOUT ACFT UNTIL AFTER THE ACFT ENTERED THE ADJACENT FAC'S AIRSPACE. SYSTEM DEVIATION.

Narrative: NY APCH CALLED AND ASKED IF I KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT A BEACON CODE (XXXX) 10 MI N OF THE RBV VOR. I SAID I DID NOT. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE PLT CALLED AND ASKED IF HE SHOULD STILL BE ON MY FREQ. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED THAT WAS THE ACFT THEY WERE CALLING ABOUT. NY APCH SAID THEY WERE WATCHING THE ACFT AND SAID HE WAS RADAR CONTACT. AFTER REVIEWING THE TAPE, THE ACFT CHKED IN ON MY FREQ SAYING, 'SMT ON 124.45.' I DID NOT HEAR THE ACFT AND DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. THE PLT MADE NO ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH 2-WAY RADIO COMS. THE ACFT WAS ON A VECTOR BECAUSE ARD VOR WAS OTS. THE DATA EXTRACT OFF ARTS II SHOWS THAT I ACCEPTED AN AUTOMATED HDOF FROM ANOTHER SECTOR OF ABE APCH. I WAS WORKING AT LEAST 6 ACFT AT THE TIME. EVEN THOUGH I WAS BUSY, I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY I DID NOT HEAR THE ACFT CHK IN ON MY FREQ. THE FREQ WAS NOT CONGESTED. THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK THAT DISTRACTED ME WAS I HAD AN ACFT GHOSTING ALL OVER MY SCOPE. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS REQUIRED, AND THE ACFT NEVER CAME WITHIN 5 MI OF ANOTHER IFR ACFT. MORE VIGILANCE ON MY PART COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS OCCURRENCE FROM HAPPENING. ALSO, IF THE PLT WOULD HAVE CALLED ME BACK TO ESTABLISH 2-WAY COMS, THIS MAY HAVE GOT MY ATTN. HE HAD AMPLE CHANCE TO DO SO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.