Narrative:

Fgt X was released off mcclellan AFB runway 16 on an IFR flight plan that called for runway heading climbing to 11000 ft for radar vectors to swr. The aircraft was restr to 2000, as was MTR Y released behind him same route, for traffic off smf. Fgt X calls and reports off and climbing to 2000 ft. I told him radar contact, climb and maintain 4000 ft, squawk X. He received the transmission but the altitude was clipped and on the tape came back as -- thousand squawk X. He then said he was in a right turn to 300 degree. I reminded him he was to be on runway heading and he said he was turning back to runway heading. In his turn I lost radar contact and told him so and asked his altitude. Fgt X said he was at 2000 ft through heading 240 degree for runway heading. There was a primary target and I told him to continue left heading 050 degree and I'd have further climb shortly. MTR Y departed reporting out of 300 ft climbing to 2000 ft. I told him radar contact climb and maintain 3000 ft. Fgt X's transponder is now observed and the mode C says 2000 ft. When asked his altitude fgt X says 2000 ft. At this point he is conveying with MTR Y. I told him his company was low to his left and to maintain visual separation. He said 'I have him visually.' MTR Y asks if I saw that closure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FGT X HAD LTSS FROM MTR Y. SYS ERROR. FGT X NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC. PLTDEV.

Narrative: FGT X WAS RELEASED OFF MCCLELLAN AFB RWY 16 ON AN IFR FLT PLAN THAT CALLED FOR RWY HDG CLBING TO 11000 FT FOR RADAR VECTORS TO SWR. THE ACFT WAS RESTR TO 2000, AS WAS MTR Y RELEASED BEHIND HIM SAME RTE, FOR TFC OFF SMF. FGT X CALLS AND RPTS OFF AND CLBING TO 2000 FT. I TOLD HIM RADAR CONTACT, CLB AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT, SQUAWK X. HE RECEIVED THE XMISSION BUT THE ALT WAS CLIPPED AND ON THE TAPE CAME BACK AS -- THOUSAND SQUAWK X. HE THEN SAID HE WAS IN A R TURN TO 300 DEG. I REMINDED HIM HE WAS TO BE ON RWY HDG AND HE SAID HE WAS TURNING BACK TO RWY HDG. IN HIS TURN I LOST RADAR CONTACT AND TOLD HIM SO AND ASKED HIS ALT. FGT X SAID HE WAS AT 2000 FT THROUGH HDG 240 DEG FOR RWY HDG. THERE WAS A PRIMARY TARGET AND I TOLD HIM TO CONTINUE L HDG 050 DEG AND I'D HAVE FURTHER CLB SHORTLY. MTR Y DEPARTED RPTING OUT OF 300 FT CLBING TO 2000 FT. I TOLD HIM RADAR CONTACT CLB AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT. FGT X'S TRANSPONDER IS NOW OBSERVED AND THE MODE C SAYS 2000 FT. WHEN ASKED HIS ALT FGT X SAYS 2000 FT. AT THIS POINT HE IS CONVEYING WITH MTR Y. I TOLD HIM HIS COMPANY WAS LOW TO HIS L AND TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION. HE SAID 'I HAVE HIM VISUALLY.' MTR Y ASKS IF I SAW THAT CLOSURE.

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.