ZTL controller observes 'free track' target enter his airspace without a handoff.

Attributes
ACN	510490
Time
Date	200105
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : psk.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 19 flight time total : 10
ASRS Report	510490
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X entered my airspace (ZTL sector 47) without any coordination. The aircraft was at 10 mi northwest of course. The data block was in 'free track.' I had no strip. I received no pointout. The aircraft was switched to me, but did not check in. I discovered the aircraft when the sector with the handoff called to request control. After several more calls, I was asked to call the aircraft to see if he was on the frequency. He was. There were at least 3 controllers involved in this situation. I was never asked about the deviation by management. I'd bet it was never turned in. Just in case, Y'all hold any illusions about the FAA's data regarding deviations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR OBSERVES 'FREE TRACK' TARGET ENTER HIS AIRSPACE WITHOUT A HDOF.

Narrative: ACR X ENTERED MY AIRSPACE (ZTL SECTOR 47) WITHOUT ANY COORD. THE ACFT WAS AT 10 MI NW OF COURSE. THE DATA BLOCK WAS IN 'FREE TRACK.' I HAD NO STRIP. I RECEIVED NO POINTOUT. THE ACFT WAS SWITCHED TO ME, BUT DID NOT CHK IN. I DISCOVERED THE ACFT WHEN THE SECTOR WITH THE HDOF CALLED TO REQUEST CTL. AFTER SEVERAL MORE CALLS, I WAS ASKED TO CALL THE ACFT TO SEE IF HE WAS ON THE FREQ. HE WAS. THERE WERE AT LEAST 3 CTLRS INVOLVED IN THIS SIT. I WAS NEVER ASKED ABOUT THE DEV BY MGMNT. I'D BET IT WAS NEVER TURNED IN. JUST IN CASE, Y'ALL HOLD ANY ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE FAA'S DATA REGARDING DEVS.

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.