Medium large transport asked to discontinue approach, vectored toward high terrain, possibly below M...

Attributes
ACN	187672
Time
Date	199108
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 5760
ASRS Report	187672
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On approach to sjc, 30L, at 3000 ft we had been cleared visual approach to 30L a few mi prior when we were instructed to discontinue the approach, turn to an east heading and climb to 4000 ft. The controller seemed to be greatly overloaded coordinating instructions to numerous aircraft. There was confusion between the controller and someone else concerning a TACAN approach at moffett. Off to our right was a commuter aircraft heading towards san jose. It appeared that in his concern with coordinating other approachs and aircraft, our approach wouldn't fit in. The nearby hills became a terrain factor just as he then issued a heading (right turn) to 210 degree and simultaneously asked us if we had a visual on the airport. I believe that the south part of our ground track as we completed a turn back toward the airport resulted in less than MVA and possibly less than 1000 AGL. I believe he desperately wanted us to say yes as to absolve him of vectoring altitude requirements. We did not tell him we had visual contact until through about a 170 degree heading.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG ASKED TO DISCONTINUE APCH, VECTORED TOWARD HIGH TERRAIN, POSSIBLY BELOW MVA.

Narrative: ON APCH TO SJC, 30L, AT 3000 FT WE HAD BEEN CLRED VISUAL APCH TO 30L A FEW MI PRIOR WHEN WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO DISCONTINUE THE APCH, TURN TO AN E HDG AND CLB TO 4000 FT. THE CTLR SEEMED TO BE GREATLY OVERLOADED COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS TO NUMEROUS ACFT. THERE WAS CONFUSION BTWN THE CTLR AND SOMEONE ELSE CONCERNING A TACAN APCH AT MOFFETT. OFF TO OUR R WAS A COMMUTER ACFT HDG TOWARDS SAN JOSE. IT APPEARED THAT IN HIS CONCERN WITH COORDINATING OTHER APCHS AND ACFT, OUR APCH WOULDN'T FIT IN. THE NEARBY HILLS BECAME A TERRAIN FACTOR JUST AS HE THEN ISSUED A HDG (R TURN) TO 210 DEG AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ASKED US IF WE HAD A VISUAL ON THE ARPT. I BELIEVE THAT THE S PART OF OUR GND TRACK AS WE COMPLETED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT RESULTED IN LESS THAN MVA AND POSSIBLY LESS THAN 1000 AGL. I BELIEVE HE DESPERATELY WANTED US TO SAY YES AS TO ABSOLVE HIM OF VECTORING ALT REQUIREMENTS. WE DID NOT TELL HIM WE HAD VISUAL CONTACT UNTIL THROUGH ABOUT A 170 DEG HDG.

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.

Medium large transport asked to discontinue approach, vectored toward high terrain, possibly below MVA.