Atx X radar vectored below MVA. System error.

Attributes
ACN	210860
Time
Date	199205
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : csn
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
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 non radar : 1 controller radar : 15
ASRS Report	210860
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Atx X was flying a heading issued by ATC. He disappeared from the radar screen. The controller was busy with numerous other aircraft and forgot about the now non-tracked atx X, which proceeded below the MVA. The problem was the result of a combination of northeast/ny traffic load, thunderstorms in area requiring many unplanned heading changes, limited flow control, and limited radar coverage in the southwest portion in iad airspace. This problem could have been avoided possibly with more complete radar coverage at iad, better flow control procedures, and having a coordinator to assist the controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX X RADAR VECTORED BELOW MVA. SYS ERROR.

Narrative: ATX X WAS FLYING A HDG ISSUED BY ATC. HE DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCREEN. THE CTLR WAS BUSY WITH NUMEROUS OTHER ACFT AND FORGOT ABOUT THE NOW NON-TRACKED ATX X, WHICH PROCEEDED BELOW THE MVA. THE PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF A COMBINATION OF NE/NY TFC LOAD, TSTMS IN AREA REQUIRING MANY UNPLANNED HDG CHANGES, LIMITED FLOW CTL, AND LIMITED RADAR COVERAGE IN THE SW PORTION IN IAD AIRSPACE. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED POSSIBLY WITH MORE COMPLETE RADAR COVERAGE AT IAD, BETTER FLOW CTL PROCS, AND HAVING A COORDINATOR TO ASSIST THE CTLR.

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.