Pilot deviation when a B747 on a localizer approach descends below the MDA to 300 ft 2 mi from the a...

Attributes
ACN	376597
Time
Date	199704
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 300 msl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lax tower : sus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 8 controller radar : 3 flight time total : 110
ASRS Report	376597
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I am submitting this in light of recent news releases concerning the aircraft incident in guam. I realize the investigation has just started, but I think this is very important. Several months ago the runway 24L GS was out for maintenance. This necessitated the use of localizer runway 24L approach procedures. It was common to get a MSA warning on jets as they stepped down to the MDA on final approach. Of course, during visual conditions we didn't worry much since we could see the aircraft. On one occasion, though, I had to advise an international carrier, B747, to stop descent. The aircraft descended through the MDA, and the nose did not come up! This was all at about 3 to 2 1/2 mi out. I didn't feel I could take the chance on assuming he had the runway in sight. It was hazy and the terrain east of lax rises so gradually that you can't tell from the air! To my best recollection, the aircraft leveled off at around 300 ft MSL, 2 mi east of the runway. I then verified that the pilot had the runway in sight, and clearance to land was issued. I feel it is of utmost importance for all concerned parties to more closely monitor approachs when one (or more) part of the approach is OTS, to ensure the approach is completed safely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTDEV WHEN A B747 ON A LOC APCH DSNDS BELOW THE MDA TO 300 FT 2 MI FROM THE ARPT. RPTR HAD TO ADVISE THE FLC TO STOP DSCNT.

Narrative: I AM SUBMITTING THIS IN LIGHT OF RECENT NEWS RELEASES CONCERNING THE ACFT INCIDENT IN GUAM. I REALIZE THE INVESTIGATION HAS JUST STARTED, BUT I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE RWY 24L GS WAS OUT FOR MAINT. THIS NECESSITATED THE USE OF LOC RWY 24L APCH PROCS. IT WAS COMMON TO GET A MSA WARNING ON JETS AS THEY STEPPED DOWN TO THE MDA ON FINAL APCH. OF COURSE, DURING VISUAL CONDITIONS WE DIDN'T WORRY MUCH SINCE WE COULD SEE THE ACFT. ON ONE OCCASION, THOUGH, I HAD TO ADVISE AN INTL CARRIER, B747, TO STOP DSCNT. THE ACFT DSNDED THROUGH THE MDA, AND THE NOSE DID NOT COME UP! THIS WAS ALL AT ABOUT 3 TO 2 1/2 MI OUT. I DIDN'T FEEL I COULD TAKE THE CHANCE ON ASSUMING HE HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT. IT WAS HAZY AND THE TERRAIN E OF LAX RISES SO GRADUALLY THAT YOU CAN'T TELL FROM THE AIR! TO MY BEST RECOLLECTION, THE ACFT LEVELED OFF AT AROUND 300 FT MSL, 2 MI E OF THE RWY. I THEN VERIFIED THAT THE PLT HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT, AND CLRNC TO LAND WAS ISSUED. I FEEL IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR ALL CONCERNED PARTIES TO MORE CLOSELY MONITOR APCHS WHEN ONE (OR MORE) PART OF THE APCH IS OTS, TO ENSURE THE APCH IS COMPLETED SAFELY.

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.

Pilot deviation when a B747 on a localizer approach descends below the MDA to 300 ft 2 mi from the airport. Reporter had to advise the flight crew to stop descent.