Reporter claims inadequate separation behind B737 while on visual approach. Reporter had airport in ...

Attributes
ACN	387810
Time
Date	199712
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	387810
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly other other anomaly other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While being vectored on a left base for runway 16, we were told that we would be following traffic at our 12 - 1 O'clock and to report him in sight. I said 'we're looking, what kind of aircraft?' he said 'a B737 at 12 O'clock, 3 mi.' it was hazy and getting dark and I said 'he's blending into the lights on the ground.' ATC asked 'do you have the field?' I said 'yes.' he said 'cleared for the visual to runway 16, maintain 170 KTS to leets.' we slowed to 150 KTS because we were only 2 1/2 mi in trail. When we were on final, the B737 was just exiting the runway. We encountered his wake on final and in the landing. This practice of vectoring aircraft together with insufficient separation is becoming common practice at den.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CLAIMS INADEQUATE SEPARATION BEHIND B737 WHILE ON VISUAL APCH. RPTR HAD ARPT IN SIGHT.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED ON A L BASE FOR RWY 16, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD BE FOLLOWING TFC AT OUR 12 - 1 O'CLOCK AND TO RPT HIM IN SIGHT. I SAID 'WE'RE LOOKING, WHAT KIND OF ACFT?' HE SAID 'A B737 AT 12 O'CLOCK, 3 MI.' IT WAS HAZY AND GETTING DARK AND I SAID 'HE'S BLENDING INTO THE LIGHTS ON THE GND.' ATC ASKED 'DO YOU HAVE THE FIELD?' I SAID 'YES.' HE SAID 'CLRED FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 16, MAINTAIN 170 KTS TO LEETS.' WE SLOWED TO 150 KTS BECAUSE WE WERE ONLY 2 1/2 MI IN TRAIL. WHEN WE WERE ON FINAL, THE B737 WAS JUST EXITING THE RWY. WE ENCOUNTERED HIS WAKE ON FINAL AND IN THE LNDG. THIS PRACTICE OF VECTORING ACFT TOGETHER WITH INSUFFICIENT SEPARATION IS BECOMING COMMON PRACTICE AT DEN.

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.

Reporter claims inadequate separation behind B737 while on visual approach. Reporter had airport in sight.