Narrative:

I accepted the radar handoff on an IFR PA23 in the vicinity of sbj VOR at 6000 ft. I also had an IFR BA41 sebound toward ard VOR already switched to phl approach (also at 6000 ft). The aircraft were absolutely no factor for each other if the pilot flew the anticipated route. I was quite busy at the time, working combined radar position and looked at this situation as nothing to look at. The PA23 would have flown easily 8-10 mi behind the BA41 if he would have flown what was expected of him. I was alerted of the conflict by my supervisor/controller in charge and took immediate action. Not mentioned above, the PA23 tracked at least 7-10 mi south of anticipated route. The aircraft requested direct lrp VOR which was denied. This is what the aircraft appeared to be tracking toward at the time of the incident instead of 'etx,' his assigned fix.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTDEV LTSS WHEN AN OFF COURSE PA23 CONFLICTED WITH A BA41 AT THE SAME ALT.

Narrative: I ACCEPTED THE RADAR HDOF ON AN IFR PA23 IN THE VICINITY OF SBJ VOR AT 6000 FT. I ALSO HAD AN IFR BA41 SEBOUND TOWARD ARD VOR ALREADY SWITCHED TO PHL APCH (ALSO AT 6000 FT). THE ACFT WERE ABSOLUTELY NO FACTOR FOR EACH OTHER IF THE PLT FLEW THE ANTICIPATED RTE. I WAS QUITE BUSY AT THE TIME, WORKING COMBINED RADAR POS AND LOOKED AT THIS SIT AS NOTHING TO LOOK AT. THE PA23 WOULD HAVE FLOWN EASILY 8-10 MI BEHIND THE BA41 IF HE WOULD HAVE FLOWN WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF HIM. I WAS ALERTED OF THE CONFLICT BY MY SUPVR/CIC AND TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION. NOT MENTIONED ABOVE, THE PA23 TRACKED AT LEAST 7-10 MI S OF ANTICIPATED RTE. THE ACFT REQUESTED DIRECT LRP VOR WHICH WAS DENIED. THIS IS WHAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE TRACKING TOWARD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT INSTEAD OF 'ETX,' HIS ASSIGNED FIX.

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.