Narrative:

We were on downwind descending from 8;000 ft. To 3;000 ft. At 250 kts. Just above 3;000 ft. ATC turned us on a right base at which point I started slowing to 210 kts. As we rolled out; I saw this was going to be a very tight base to final turn. We were given an additional vector and cleared to intercept the localizer. We intercepted the localizer at 3;000 ft. And 210 kts. And accepted the visual approach. We were on localizer and above glide slope. I called for gear down and continued to configure for landing. I spun the altitude window away from 3;000 ft. And used vertical speed down 1;500 ft. To capture glide slope. At 1;000 ft. I saw us on glide slope and configured for landing and called stable. I turned off the autopilot and shallowed our descent rate. Unfortunately; I did not realize I had never selected approach mode and as I attempted to fly the visual approach the auto thrust continued in idle as it was expecting a 1;500 fpm descent. The first officer called speed as we were below ref trending lower. The first officer correctly analyzed the situation and turned off the flight directors restoring the auto thrust input to command for ref speed. At this point I turned off the autopilot and continued the approach and landing. I think we may have gone a bit below then a bit above glide slope from 900 ft. To 400 ft. We should have executed a go around shortly after the 1;000 ft. Call instead of going into problem solving mode. Unfortunately; I fell into the trap of being in VFR conditions on a visual approach trying to go from high and fast to fully configured and stable with an error on my part for never having selected approach mode. We may or may not have technically been unstable; but a go around would have been the wiser course of action.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier First Officer reported an unstabilized approach.

Narrative: We were on downwind descending from 8;000 ft. to 3;000 ft. at 250 kts. Just above 3;000 ft. ATC turned us on a right base at which point I started slowing to 210 kts. As we rolled out; I saw this was going to be a very tight base to final turn. We were given an additional vector and cleared to intercept the localizer. We intercepted the localizer at 3;000 ft. and 210 kts. and accepted the Visual Approach. We were on localizer and above glide slope. I called for gear down and continued to configure for landing. I spun the altitude window away from 3;000 ft. and used vertical speed down 1;500 ft. to capture glide slope. At 1;000 ft. I saw us on glide slope and configured for landing and called stable. I turned off the autopilot and shallowed our descent rate. Unfortunately; I did not realize I had never selected approach mode and as I attempted to fly the Visual Approach the auto thrust continued in idle as it was expecting a 1;500 fpm descent. The First Officer called speed as we were below ref trending lower. The First Officer correctly analyzed the situation and turned off the flight directors restoring the auto thrust input to command for ref speed. At this point I turned off the autopilot and continued the approach and landing. I think we may have gone a bit below then a bit above glide slope from 900 ft. to 400 ft. We should have executed a go around shortly after the 1;000 ft. call instead of going into problem solving mode. Unfortunately; I fell into the trap of being in VFR conditions on a Visual Approach trying to go from high and fast to fully configured and stable with an error on my part for never having selected approach mode. We may or may not have technically been unstable; but a go around would have been the wiser course of action.

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.