Radar controller insisted air carrier X was navigation error.

Attributes
ACN	169479
Time
Date	199101
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : byi
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	169479
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Air carrier X 48 mi west of byi VOR ATC (slc center) told me that I was northwest of boi and heading northwest. I told him that my position was no where near where he was painting me. After I did an 'identify' he still insisted I was northwest of boi. I again verified my position with two VOR's three INS, one magnetic compass and one sunrise I was looking at. Shortly after crossing byi, I was correctly idented. You can well image what a dangerous situation this could develop into.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADAR CTLR INSISTED ACR X WAS NAV ERROR.

Narrative: ACR X 48 MI W OF BYI VOR ATC (SLC CTR) TOLD ME THAT I WAS NW OF BOI AND HDG NW. I TOLD HIM THAT MY POS WAS NO WHERE NEAR WHERE HE WAS PAINTING ME. AFTER I DID AN 'IDENT' HE STILL INSISTED I WAS NW OF BOI. I AGAIN VERIFIED MY POS WITH TWO VOR'S THREE INS, ONE MAG COMPASS AND ONE SUNRISE I WAS LOOKING AT. SHORTLY AFTER XING BYI, I WAS CORRECTLY IDENTED. YOU CAN WELL IMAGE WHAT A DANGEROUS SITUATION THIS COULD DEVELOP INTO.

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.