Air carrier departed airport undetected by computer for approximately 18 miles.

Attributes
ACN	121883
Time
Date	198909
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14300 msl bound upper : 14300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure sid : sid enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 16
ASRS Report	121883
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X departed sfo west/O automatic-departure activating flight plan. The beacon was first observed 18 mi northeast of sfo at 14300'. Bay approach called at the same time and also noticed target/beacon. Approach control owns airspace 13000' and below area, and center 14000' and above. Air carrier Y departed sfo at XX14Z. A handoff was made to the center. Communication was made and air carrier Y was cleared direct lin and climbed to FL230. When the beacon on air carrier X was noticed, air carrier Y was at 12100'. At that time, the center controller stopped air carrier Y at 13000'. Closest distance was approximately 3 mi before climb on air carrier Y was restr. At this time, I don't know if beacon on air carrier X was working all the time or if transponder was off/intermittent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DEPARTED ARPT UNDETECTED BY COMPUTER FOR APPROX 18 MILES.

Narrative: ACR X DEPARTED SFO W/O AUTO-DEP ACTIVATING FLT PLAN. THE BEACON WAS FIRST OBSERVED 18 MI NE OF SFO AT 14300'. BAY APCH CALLED AT THE SAME TIME AND ALSO NOTICED TARGET/BEACON. APCH CTL OWNS AIRSPACE 13000' AND BELOW AREA, AND CENTER 14000' AND ABOVE. ACR Y DEPARTED SFO AT XX14Z. A HDOF WAS MADE TO THE CENTER. COM WAS MADE AND ACR Y WAS CLRED DIRECT LIN AND CLBED TO FL230. WHEN THE BEACON ON ACR X WAS NOTICED, ACR Y WAS AT 12100'. AT THAT TIME, THE CENTER CTLR STOPPED ACR Y AT 13000'. CLOSEST DISTANCE WAS APPROX 3 MI BEFORE CLB ON ACR Y WAS RESTR. AT THIS TIME, I DON'T KNOW IF BEACON ON ACR X WAS WORKING ALL THE TIME OR IF XPONDER WAS OFF/INTERMITTENT.

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