Narrative:

We were vectored to intercept the lda and when cleared for the approach, VOR localizer was engaged with the flight director providing lda guidance. The GS was followed, with the step down altitudes as back up, down to the 720 ft MDA; which was reached at approximately 2.9 lda DME. Since the runway would be visible on the right side of the airplane, and since I was the PF, the first officer made the visual search for the runway as soon as we broke out of the overcast which was almost simultaneously to reaching MDA. Just before intercepting the extended centerline of runway 18, at approximately 1.8 lda DME, the first officer announced runway in sight. I visually confirmed runway 18 in sight, banked right, and began a descent from MDA. Once we were lined up with runway 18, it became evident that we were too high to make a normal descent to landing. Dca tower asked if we would be able to get down. We responded that it would not be possible and we would be executing a missed approach. We were instructed to climb to 2000 ft, then to turn left heading 090, then to climb to 3000 ft. We were then vectored for a second lda DME 18 approach. This time the runway came into view about a mi sooner and we were able to descend on a normal glidepath to runway 18 for normal landing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF MLG MADE MAP AT DCA FROM THE LDA DME APCH. NORMAL LNDG ON SECOND APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE VECTORED TO INTERCEPT THE LDA AND WHEN CLRED FOR THE APCH, VOR LOC WAS ENGAGED WITH THE FLT DIRECTOR PROVIDING LDA GUIDANCE. THE GS WAS FOLLOWED, WITH THE STEP DOWN ALTS AS BACK UP, DOWN TO THE 720 FT MDA; WHICH WAS REACHED AT APPROX 2.9 LDA DME. SINCE THE RWY WOULD BE VISIBLE ON THE R SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE, AND SINCE I WAS THE PF, THE FO MADE THE VISUAL SEARCH FOR THE RWY AS SOON AS WE BROKE OUT OF THE OVCST WHICH WAS ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY TO REACHING MDA. JUST BEFORE INTERCEPTING THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 18, AT APPROX 1.8 LDA DME, THE FO ANNOUNCED RWY IN SIGHT. I VISUALLY CONFIRMED RWY 18 IN SIGHT, BANKED R, AND BEGAN A DSCNT FROM MDA. ONCE WE WERE LINED UP WITH RWY 18, IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT WE WERE TOO HIGH TO MAKE A NORMAL DSCNT TO LNDG. DCA TWR ASKED IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET DOWN. WE RESPONDED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE AND WE WOULD BE EXECUTING A MISSED APCH. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 2000 FT, THEN TO TURN L HDG 090, THEN TO CLB TO 3000 FT. WE WERE THEN VECTORED FOR A SECOND LDA DME 18 APCH. THIS TIME THE RWY CAME INTO VIEW ABOUT A MI SOONER AND WE WERE ABLE TO DSND ON A NORMAL GLIDEPATH TO RWY 18 FOR NORMAL LNDG.

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.