A319 flight crew reported executing a go-around due to an unstable approach resulting from inadequat...

Attributes
ACN	1612460
Time
Date	201901
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Autothrottle/Speed Control
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Speed All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

Accomplished go-around below 1000 feet due to aircraft spacing created by approach and tailwind; which resulted in an unstable approach. Subsequent approach uneventful.we were asked by ATC to slow to 160 knots on final. This was because of an aircraft 2.5-3 miles in front of us. We also had a 30-knot tailwind. We were using full automation and aircraft was not able to maintain 160 knots with flaps at configuration 2. In addition to the tailwind; the autothrottles was actually increasing at a time that it should have been decreasing because of the increased speed. The increase in thrust could often be contributed to not being in the approach phase...but this was not the case. We were in fact in the approach phase. The first officer disconnected autopilot and autothrottles and lowered the gear and flaps prior to 1000 feet. The airplane was above the glideslope below 1000 feet. This resulted in an unstable approach in attempting to 'catch' the glideslope. We conducted a go around at approximately 750 feet.as a result of the 30-knot tailwind; we should have lowered the gear further out to help maintain the speed. However; it is unclear as to why the autothrottles was increasing at a time that it should have been decreasing to lower the speed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 flight crew reported executing a go-around due to an unstable approach resulting from inadequate spacing and 30-knot tailwind.

Narrative: Accomplished go-around below 1000 feet due to aircraft spacing created by approach and tailwind; which resulted in an unstable approach. Subsequent approach uneventful.We were asked by ATC to slow to 160 knots on final. This was because of an aircraft 2.5-3 miles in front of us. We also had a 30-knot tailwind. We were using full automation and aircraft was not able to maintain 160 knots with flaps at configuration 2. In addition to the tailwind; the Autothrottles was actually increasing at a time that it should have been decreasing because of the increased speed. The increase in thrust could often be contributed to not being in the approach phase...but this was not the case. We were in fact in the approach phase. The First Officer disconnected Autopilot and Autothrottles and lowered the gear and flaps prior to 1000 feet. The airplane was above the Glideslope below 1000 feet. This resulted in an unstable approach in attempting to 'catch' the Glideslope. We conducted a go around at approximately 750 feet.As a result of the 30-knot tailwind; we should have lowered the gear further out to help maintain the speed. However; it is unclear as to why the Autothrottles was increasing at a time that it should have been decreasing to lower the speed.

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.