Narrative:

Air carrier X departed runway 18R at tampa. Handed off to center, via ARTS. ARTS data block showed acceptance, and aircraft was now on a 'C' track. As I turned the aircraft northbound, 7 mi southwest of tampa, the primary target turned north and the data block went west, away from the target. The data block then went to coast 'CST', and then disappeared. Data block reacquired on primary target 7 mi west of tampa. It was 10 flying mi from the time the data block left the primary target until it reacquired back on again.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADAR EQUIP PROBLEM ARTSS IIIA ACR X DATA TAG WENT INTO COAST.

Narrative: ACR X DEPARTED RWY 18R AT TAMPA. HANDED OFF TO CTR, VIA ARTS. ARTS DATA BLOCK SHOWED ACCEPTANCE, AND ACFT WAS NOW ON A 'C' TRACK. AS I TURNED THE ACFT NBOUND, 7 MI SW OF TAMPA, THE PRIMARY TARGET TURNED N AND THE DATA BLOCK WENT W, AWAY FROM THE TARGET. THE DATA BLOCK THEN WENT TO COAST 'CST', AND THEN DISAPPEARED. DATA BLOCK REACQUIRED ON PRIMARY TARGET 7 MI W OF TAMPA. IT WAS 10 FLYING MI FROM THE TIME THE DATA BLOCK LEFT THE PRIMARY TARGET UNTIL IT REACQUIRED BACK ON AGAIN.

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.