Approach control radar scope shifted 90 degrees while an aircraft was on approach during adverse WX ...

Attributes
ACN	159455
Time
Date	199010
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fmy airport : rsw
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rsw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 7 controller radar : 12
ASRS Report	159455
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

Narrative:

Received a handoff from mia center on air carrier X deviation for WX. During vectors for ILS approach to rsw, heading discrepancies were noted resulting in confusion. Winds aloft 50 to 60 KTS, allowing for ground track vs headings issued to be different. Radar presentation shifted 90 degree clockwise to actual map. No WX circuits were in use sjc set on #1, radar sensitivity on maximum. WX in spiral bands associated with ts marlo. No other traffic, no visibility clue to radar shift. Concerned with pilot report not coinciding with observed aircraft position in radar. 90 degree shift coincided with muffe and fmy VORTAC. Aircraft was not where radar was showing. A trained on radar training and another high time fpl was observing. No one noticed or observed any abnormalities on the radar.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTL RADAR SCOPE SHIFTED 90 DEGS WHILE AN ACFT WAS ON APCH DURING ADVERSE WX CONDITIONS.

Narrative: RECEIVED A HDOF FROM MIA CTR ON ACR X DEV FOR WX. DURING VECTORS FOR ILS APCH TO RSW, HDG DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED RESULTING IN CONFUSION. WINDS ALOFT 50 TO 60 KTS, ALLOWING FOR GND TRACK VS HDGS ISSUED TO BE DIFFERENT. RADAR PRESENTATION SHIFTED 90 DEG CLOCKWISE TO ACTUAL MAP. NO WX CIRCUITS WERE IN USE SJC SET ON #1, RADAR SENSITIVITY ON MAX. WX IN SPIRAL BANDS ASSOCIATED WITH TS MARLO. NO OTHER TFC, NO VIS CLUE TO RADAR SHIFT. CONCERNED WITH PLT RPT NOT COINCIDING WITH OBSERVED ACFT POS IN RADAR. 90 DEG SHIFT COINCIDED WITH MUFFE AND FMY VORTAC. ACFT WAS NOT WHERE RADAR WAS SHOWING. A TRAINED ON RADAR TRAINING AND ANOTHER HIGH TIME FPL WAS OBSERVING. NO ONE NOTICED OR OBSERVED ANY ABNORMALITIES ON THE RADAR.

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.

Approach control radar scope shifted 90 degrees while an aircraft was on approach during adverse WX conditions.