Controller claims ASR-9 radar at mci is displaying false targets almost daily.

Attributes
ACN	411238
Time
Date	199808
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mci
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mci tracon : mci
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 12
ASRS Report	411238
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

DC9 on vector for mci level at 4000 ft. Position was 215 degrees, 12 mi from mkc VOR. False target appeared at 005 degrees, 8 mi from mkc at 4000 ft. Situation becoming a real problem, since other aircraft in area of false target on near same altitude as false target displayed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that an ASR-9 radar is installed at mci. False target occurrences happen almost daily. Says the false targets do not exactly mirror the real target, but displays an IFR symbol with the same transponder code. Recently management has required occurrences be put on the facility daily log. New tower building in operation for about 1 yr is 3 stories taller than the old tower. In addition, a tall crane was on the field taking down the old tower building until just recently. Reporter didn't know if the construction equipment and the new tower might have something to do with the false target problem. Also stated that management seems interested in getting the problem resolved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR CLAIMS ASR-9 RADAR AT MCI IS DISPLAYING FALSE TARGETS ALMOST DAILY.

Narrative: DC9 ON VECTOR FOR MCI LEVEL AT 4000 FT. POS WAS 215 DEGS, 12 MI FROM MKC VOR. FALSE TARGET APPEARED AT 005 DEGS, 8 MI FROM MKC AT 4000 FT. SIT BECOMING A REAL PROB, SINCE OTHER ACFT IN AREA OF FALSE TARGET ON NEAR SAME ALT AS FALSE TARGET DISPLAYED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT AN ASR-9 RADAR IS INSTALLED AT MCI. FALSE TARGET OCCURRENCES HAPPEN ALMOST DAILY. SAYS THE FALSE TARGETS DO NOT EXACTLY MIRROR THE REAL TARGET, BUT DISPLAYS AN IFR SYMBOL WITH THE SAME XPONDER CODE. RECENTLY MGMNT HAS REQUIRED OCCURRENCES BE PUT ON THE FACILITY DAILY LOG. NEW TWR BUILDING IN OP FOR ABOUT 1 YR IS 3 STORIES TALLER THAN THE OLD TWR. IN ADDITION, A TALL CRANE WAS ON THE FIELD TAKING DOWN THE OLD TWR BUILDING UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. RPTR DIDN'T KNOW IF THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIP AND THE NEW TWR MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FALSE TARGET PROB. ALSO STATED THAT MGMNT SEEMS INTERESTED IN GETTING THE PROB RESOLVED.

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.