Narrative:

Pilot of aircraft received clearance from pih to slc via victor 21, climb and maintain 15000. On initial call to salt lake center, aircraft reported leaving 6600 for 15000. In an area of good radar coverage the beacon was not observed on radar for approximately 33 mi. At this point the aircraft had crossed from sector 5 to sector 31 without non-radar coordination. No traffic for the aircraft was involved and was level at 15000 on first radar hit. Factors: controller assumed imminent radar, became busy elsewhere and lost track of aircraft's progress. Flight crew may not have turned on transponder. Aircraft transponder may have been faulty. Suggestions: in areas where sector lines are in close proximity to departure airports, controllers should start forced coast data blocks for aircraft until positive radar contact.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR ALLOWED ACR LTT TO ENTER ADJACENT SECTOR WITHOUT PROPER COORD OR HANDOFF.

Narrative: PLT OF ACFT RECEIVED CLRNC FROM PIH TO SLC VIA VICTOR 21, CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 15000. ON INITIAL CALL TO SALT LAKE CENTER, ACFT REPORTED LEAVING 6600 FOR 15000. IN AN AREA OF GOOD RADAR COVERAGE THE BEACON WAS NOT OBSERVED ON RADAR FOR APPROX 33 MI. AT THIS POINT THE ACFT HAD CROSSED FROM SECTOR 5 TO SECTOR 31 WITHOUT NON-RADAR COORD. NO TFC FOR THE ACFT WAS INVOLVED AND WAS LEVEL AT 15000 ON FIRST RADAR HIT. FACTORS: CTLR ASSUMED IMMINENT RADAR, BECAME BUSY ELSEWHERE AND LOST TRACK OF ACFT'S PROGRESS. FLT CREW MAY NOT HAVE TURNED ON XPONDER. ACFT XPONDER MAY HAVE BEEN FAULTY. SUGGESTIONS: IN AREAS WHERE SECTOR LINES ARE IN CLOSE PROX TO DEP ARPTS, CTLRS SHOULD START FORCED COAST DATA BLOCKS FOR ACFT UNTIL POSITIVE RADAR CONTACT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.