Sct approach radar controller observes a false radar target converge on a commuter aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	486065
Time
Date	200009
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 119
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 5 controller radar : 10 controller time certified in position1 : 3
ASRS Report	486065
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility

Narrative:

I was working downe radar position. Final controller for lax. Air carrier X was an arrival from sli at 7000 ft. When air carrier X was over sli, I noticed traffic at about 10 O'clock position and 5 mi converging. My radar displayed the target as primary and secondary radar associated with ARTS information. The ARTS information said that the target had a beacon code of XXXX and an altitude indication 5800 ft. The ground speed was 280 KTS. The target was in a course directly at air carrier X and climbing. I got updated information for 4 or 5 sweeps. Altitudes indicated 5800 ft, 6000 ft, 6200 ft. It appeared to me to be a valid target and I issued traffic to air carrier X. After 4 or 5 sweeps the target disappeared. It was a ghost target all the way. This event occurred at approximately XA14Z on sep/xa/00.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SCT APCH RADAR CTLR OBSERVES A FALSE RADAR TARGET CONVERGE ON A COMMUTER ACFT.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING DOWNE RADAR POS. FINAL CTLR FOR LAX. ACR X WAS AN ARR FROM SLI AT 7000 FT. WHEN ACR X WAS OVER SLI, I NOTICED TFC AT ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK POS AND 5 MI CONVERGING. MY RADAR DISPLAYED THE TARGET AS PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RADAR ASSOCIATED WITH ARTS INFO. THE ARTS INFO SAID THAT THE TARGET HAD A BEACON CODE OF XXXX AND AN ALT INDICATION 5800 FT. THE GND SPD WAS 280 KTS. THE TARGET WAS IN A COURSE DIRECTLY AT ACR X AND CLBING. I GOT UPDATED INFO FOR 4 OR 5 SWEEPS. ALTS INDICATED 5800 FT, 6000 FT, 6200 FT. IT APPEARED TO ME TO BE A VALID TARGET AND I ISSUED TFC TO ACR X. AFTER 4 OR 5 SWEEPS THE TARGET DISAPPEARED. IT WAS A GHOST TARGET ALL THE WAY. THIS EVENT OCCURRED AT APPROX XA14Z ON SEP/XA/00.

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.