Memphis center controllers reported an IFR aircraft that flew from one sector to the next without co...

Attributes
ACN	1397753
Time
Date	201610
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZME.ARTCC
State Reference	TN
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 2 Eng Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 9
Person 2
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 23
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

I was working hot lo with a radar outage at rue. Aircraft X called stating he lost communications with last frequency. I suspected he may have been under flight following so I didn't initially prioritize him. I did keep going back to get more information while working the rest of traffic. Eventually I discovered he was under an IFR clearance and when he reported level at FL060; I climbed aircraft Y that I had at FL060 in the area he reported to be at. I asked the sector that aircraft X would have come from if they knew anything about him; but they didn't know. Unfortunately; someone previously removed strips on the aircraft and forgot about him. I seriously doubt this was done on purpose; but it could have been a serious mistake. Fortunately the pilot proactively found a good frequency and the situation was resolved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Memphis Center Controllers reported an IFR aircraft that flew from one sector to the next without coordination. Neither Controller had information on the traffic and it was found that someone had removed the flight plan on the aircraft.

Narrative: I was working HOT LO with a radar outage at RUE. Aircraft X called stating he lost communications with last frequency. I suspected he may have been under flight following so I didn't initially prioritize him. I did keep going back to get more information while working the rest of traffic. Eventually I discovered he was under an IFR clearance and when he reported level at FL060; I climbed Aircraft Y that I had at FL060 in the area he reported to be at. I asked the sector that Aircraft X would have come from if they knew anything about him; but they didn't know. Unfortunately; someone previously removed strips on the aircraft and forgot about him. I seriously doubt this was done on purpose; but it could have been a serious mistake. Fortunately the pilot proactively found a good frequency and the situation was resolved.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Memphis center controllers reported an IFR aircraft that flew from one sector to the next without coordination. Neither controller had information on the traffic and it was found that someone had removed the flight plan on the aircraft.