Ont approach radar equipment problem.

Attributes
ACN	161859
Time
Date	199010
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : psp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tracon : ont
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 2 controller radar : 6
ASRS Report	161859
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

I was working R19 (frequencys 126.35, 290.2) at ZLA. Cpr X inbound to vny via V16 pdz was descending to 15000' MSL. Handoff fix to ont approach is bands intersection 21 mi west of psp VORTAC on V16. At 5 mi east of bands the d-side controller called ont approach with a handoff on cpr X. The ont approach controller replied that he did not see the beacon and to keep the aircraft coming. At 12 mi west of bands intersection the ont approach controller still did not see the target and requested us to spin the aircraft. When I issued the 360 degree turn to cpr X the pilot then cancelled his IFR flight plan and proceeded VFR. This same situation also occurred with 2 other air carrier's. Both aircraft were spun due to ont approach inability to see the aircraft's beacon targets. The radar system at ont approach control was not performing at a satisfactory level.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ONT APCH RADAR EQUIPMENT PROBLEM.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING R19 (FREQS 126.35, 290.2) AT ZLA. CPR X INBND TO VNY VIA V16 PDZ WAS DSNDING TO 15000' MSL. HDOF FIX TO ONT APCH IS BANDS INTXN 21 MI W OF PSP VORTAC ON V16. AT 5 MI E OF BANDS THE D-SIDE CTLR CALLED ONT APCH WITH A HDOF ON CPR X. THE ONT APCH CTLR REPLIED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE BEACON AND TO KEEP THE ACFT COMING. AT 12 MI W OF BANDS INTXN THE ONT APCH CTLR STILL DID NOT SEE THE TARGET AND REQUESTED US TO SPIN THE ACFT. WHEN I ISSUED THE 360 DEG TURN TO CPR X THE PLT THEN CANCELLED HIS IFR FLT PLAN AND PROCEEDED VFR. THIS SAME SITUATION ALSO OCCURRED WITH 2 OTHER ACR'S. BOTH ACFT WERE SPUN DUE TO ONT APCH INABILITY TO SEE THE ACFT'S BEACON TARGETS. THE RADAR SYS AT ONT APCH CTL WAS NOT PERFORMING AT A SATISFACTORY LEVEL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.