Narrative:

Atx X called me as a VFR inbound landing at tpa. Atx X tagged and I idented the tagged target 15 NM southwest of lal at 1600 ft. I issued atx X a heading of 330 degree for a vector to tpa. Atx X stated he was not 15 NM southwest of local. He stated he was 15 NM north of lal at 1600 ft. I observed an ARTS 'splat' mode C 1600 ft, 15 NM north of lal. I repositioned the ARTS tag to the target 15 NM north of lal and asked atx X to identify. I observed both ARTS tracks identify. I noted a primary target associated with the track 15 NM north of lal and reidented the aircraft. The false track 15 NM southwest of lal dropped off the display. An ongoing radar ARTS problem here at tpa. We hope it gets fixed soon!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR MIS RADAR IDENTED ATX X DUE TO ARTS IIIA PROBLEM FALSE TARGET.

Narrative: ATX X CALLED ME AS A VFR INBOUND LNDG AT TPA. ATX X TAGGED AND I IDENTED THE TAGGED TARGET 15 NM SW OF LAL AT 1600 FT. I ISSUED ATX X A HDG OF 330 DEG FOR A VECTOR TO TPA. ATX X STATED HE WAS NOT 15 NM SW OF LCL. HE STATED HE WAS 15 NM N OF LAL AT 1600 FT. I OBSERVED AN ARTS 'SPLAT' MODE C 1600 FT, 15 NM N OF LAL. I REPOSITIONED THE ARTS TAG TO THE TARGET 15 NM N OF LAL AND ASKED ATX X TO IDENT. I OBSERVED BOTH ARTS TRACKS IDENT. I NOTED A PRIMARY TARGET ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRACK 15 NM N OF LAL AND REIDENTED THE ACFT. THE FALSE TRACK 15 NM SW OF LAL DROPPED OFF THE DISPLAY. AN ONGOING RADAR ARTS PROBLEM HERE AT TPA. WE HOPE IT GETS FIXED SOON!

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.