Controller mis radar idented atx X due to ARTS IIIA problem false target.

Attributes
ACN	230288
Time
Date	199301
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lal
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa tower : chs
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 13
ASRS Report	230288
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

Atx X called me as a VFR inbound landing at tpa. Atx X tagged and I idented the tagged target 15 NM southwest of lal at 1600 ft. I issued atx X a heading of 330 degree for a vector to tpa. Atx X stated he was not 15 NM southwest of local. He stated he was 15 NM north of lal at 1600 ft. I observed an ARTS 'splat' mode C 1600 ft, 15 NM north of lal. I repositioned the ARTS tag to the target 15 NM north of lal and asked atx X to identify. I observed both ARTS tracks identify. I noted a primary target associated with the track 15 NM north of lal and reidented the aircraft. The false track 15 NM southwest of lal dropped off the display. An ongoing radar ARTS problem here at tpa. We hope it gets fixed soon!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR MIS RADAR IDENTED ATX X DUE TO ARTS IIIA PROBLEM FALSE TARGET.

Narrative: ATX X CALLED ME AS A VFR INBOUND LNDG AT TPA. ATX X TAGGED AND I IDENTED THE TAGGED TARGET 15 NM SW OF LAL AT 1600 FT. I ISSUED ATX X A HDG OF 330 DEG FOR A VECTOR TO TPA. ATX X STATED HE WAS NOT 15 NM SW OF LCL. HE STATED HE WAS 15 NM N OF LAL AT 1600 FT. I OBSERVED AN ARTS 'SPLAT' MODE C 1600 FT, 15 NM N OF LAL. I REPOSITIONED THE ARTS TAG TO THE TARGET 15 NM N OF LAL AND ASKED ATX X TO IDENT. I OBSERVED BOTH ARTS TRACKS IDENT. I NOTED A PRIMARY TARGET ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRACK 15 NM N OF LAL AND REIDENTED THE ACFT. THE FALSE TRACK 15 NM SW OF LAL DROPPED OFF THE DISPLAY. AN ONGOING RADAR ARTS PROBLEM HERE AT TPA. WE HOPE IT GETS FIXED SOON!

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.