Altitude deviation altitude overshot in visual approach procedure in a night operation. Cftt.

Attributes
ACN	238801
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btr
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : btr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	238801
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	238800
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While descending on a visual approach, heading east on right base for runway 22R at btr with intersecting runway 13 in sight. Cleared visual approach to follow traffic on final to runway 22R, subsequently losing traffic and continuing to descend at 160 KTS, 500 FPM. We received a low altitude alert warning from approach tower. Leveled off and initiated a climb to 2500 MSL. Completed a left 270 degree turn and lined up on runway 22R and landed uneventfully. The problem was the first officer not communicating to the crew he had not picked up the runway 22R combined with losing sight of the traffic and continuing descent, at 6 DME should have been 1800 AGL, not 1500 AGL. Contributing cause was runway lighting was turned down, when control turned up the intensity, the runway was regained immediately. Captain had VASI runway 22R in sight entire time and didn't know first officer had not picked up the runway. Captain lost VASI under nose of aircraft. Lesson: communicate in the cockpit, request instrument approach and always remain above the GS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN VISUAL APCH PROC IN A NIGHT OP. CFTT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING ON A VISUAL APCH, HDG E ON R BASE FOR RWY 22R AT BTR WITH INTERSECTING RWY 13 IN SIGHT. CLRED VISUAL APCH TO FOLLOW TFC ON FINAL TO RWY 22R, SUBSEQUENTLY LOSING TFC AND CONTINUING TO DSND AT 160 KTS, 500 FPM. WE RECEIVED A LOW ALT ALERT WARNING FROM APCH TWR. LEVELED OFF AND INITIATED A CLB TO 2500 MSL. COMPLETED A L 270 DEG TURN AND LINED UP ON RWY 22R AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. THE PROB WAS THE FO NOT COMMUNICATING TO THE CREW HE HAD NOT PICKED UP THE RWY 22R COMBINED WITH LOSING SIGHT OF THE TFC AND CONTINUING DSCNT, AT 6 DME SHOULD HAVE BEEN 1800 AGL, NOT 1500 AGL. CONTRIBUTING CAUSE WAS RWY LIGHTING WAS TURNED DOWN, WHEN CTL TURNED UP THE INTENSITY, THE RWY WAS REGAINED IMMEDIATELY. CAPT HAD VASI RWY 22R IN SIGHT ENTIRE TIME AND DIDN'T KNOW FO HAD NOT PICKED UP THE RWY. CAPT LOST VASI UNDER NOSE OF ACFT. LESSON: COMMUNICATE IN THE COCKPIT, REQUEST INST APCH AND ALWAYS REMAIN ABOVE THE GS.

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.