Air carrier departed airport, then went undetected by radar for approximately 35 miles.

Attributes
ACN	119373
Time
Date	198908
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sli airport : san
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	119373
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Inter Facility Coordination Failure Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X was sequenced with the rundown at XX36. The tower verified they had given me a rundown again at XX38. The first time I talked to air carrier X was at XX48 when the pilot advised he was 15 mi south of sli and would like a lower altitude. The transponder was either off, on standby, or not operational as it was not working through the 30-35 mi of airspace in my sector. The tower is supposed to advise the departure controller of all departures which do not automatic acquire. This was not done. I did not realize the aircraft was off because of no alert from the tower, no transponder and the pilot's failure to check in.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DEPARTED ARPT, THEN WENT UNDETECTED BY RADAR FOR APPROX 35 MILES.

Narrative: ACR X WAS SEQUENCED WITH THE RUNDOWN AT XX36. THE TWR VERIFIED THEY HAD GIVEN ME A RUNDOWN AGAIN AT XX38. THE FIRST TIME I TALKED TO ACR X WAS AT XX48 WHEN THE PLT ADVISED HE WAS 15 MI S OF SLI AND WOULD LIKE A LOWER ALT. THE XPONDER WAS EITHER OFF, ON STANDBY, OR NOT OPERATIONAL AS IT WAS NOT WORKING THROUGH THE 30-35 MI OF AIRSPACE IN MY SECTOR. THE TWR IS SUPPOSED TO ADVISE THE DEP CTLR OF ALL DEPS WHICH DO NOT AUTO ACQUIRE. THIS WAS NOT DONE. I DID NOT REALIZE THE ACFT WAS OFF BECAUSE OF NO ALERT FROM THE TWR, NO XPONDER AND THE PLT'S FAILURE TO CHK IN.

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.