<< >> NASA ASRS Report 1423214, February 2017

B737 flight crew reported an ATC low altitude alert and unstabilized approach that resulted in a go-around.

Attributes
ACN	1423214
Time
Date	201702
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach

Narrative:

Transitioning from the RNAV arrival we were held high by approach control and transitioned to the approach higher and faster than normal. The PF had briefed the localizer with the LNAV/VNAV shadowing to a visual approach landing. At the FAF; the PF continued to configure the aircraft and started a descent that was steeper than normal. We were still in the clouds at the FAF; but broke out of the weather quickly and had the field in sight. After stopping the initial descent; and leveling off; the tower passed a low altitude alert. Pm acknowledged the alert and the PF continued inbound in level flight. In an attempt to make everything look right with the LNAV/VNAV approach; the PF focused on the VNAV and became distracted with the automation. Configuration calls slowed down and communication between PF and pm declined. When we got an automated too low flaps call; the PF called for and initiated an uneventful go-around and subsequent uneventful approach and landing.

Related reports:

• A320 flight crew reported FMC issues resulted in an unstabil...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reported an ATC low altitude alert and unstabilized approach that resulted in a go-around.

Narrative: Transitioning from the RNAV Arrival we were held high by Approach Control and transitioned to the approach higher and faster than normal. The PF had briefed the LOC with the LNAV/VNAV shadowing to a visual approach landing. At the FAF; the PF continued to configure the aircraft and started a descent that was steeper than normal. We were still in the clouds at the FAF; but broke out of the weather quickly and had the field in sight. After stopping the initial descent; and leveling off; the Tower passed a low altitude alert. PM acknowledged the alert and the PF continued inbound in level flight. In an attempt to make everything look right with the LNAV/VNAV approach; the PF focused on the VNAV and became distracted with the automation. Configuration calls slowed down and communication between PF and PM declined. When we got an automated too low flaps call; the PF called for and initiated an uneventful go-around and subsequent uneventful approach and landing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.