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B727 aircraft on descent for approach is cleared by approach controller for a visual approach and flight crew descends to OM altitude. Controller calls and tell flight crew they are too low on approach.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 395527 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199802 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bhm |
| State Reference | AL |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2200 msl bound upper : 2200 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : bhm |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 400 |
| ASRS Report | 395527 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : second officer |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 100 |
| ASRS Report | 395340 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
We were cleared for a visual approach for runway 5 at birmingham, al. We were en route from memphis and upon receiving the 'cleared for visual approach,' we descended to 2200 ft MSL after being on a course to mcden LOM. Birmingham approach asked our altitude (which was 2200 ft MSL) and indicated that we should be at 2600 ft MSL. At the time, we believe we were at approximately 17 mi northeast of the field. After reviewing the approach chart, 2600 ft would have been a more appropriate altitude for our distance from the airport. I appreciated birmingham approach concern and flight following. There was some confusion as to what altitude we should be at after being cleared for the visual approach.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B727 ACFT ON DSCNT FOR APCH IS CLRED BY APCH CTLR FOR A VISUAL APCH AND FLC DSNDS TO OM ALT. CTLR CALLS AND TELL FLC THEY ARE TOO LOW ON APCH.
Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH FOR RWY 5 AT BIRMINGHAM, AL. WE WERE ENRTE FROM MEMPHIS AND UPON RECEIVING THE 'CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH,' WE DSNDED TO 2200 FT MSL AFTER BEING ON A COURSE TO MCDEN LOM. BIRMINGHAM APCH ASKED OUR ALT (WHICH WAS 2200 FT MSL) AND INDICATED THAT WE SHOULD BE AT 2600 FT MSL. AT THE TIME, WE BELIEVE WE WERE AT APPROX 17 MI NE OF THE FIELD. AFTER REVIEWING THE APCH CHART, 2600 FT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MORE APPROPRIATE ALT FOR OUR DISTANCE FROM THE ARPT. I APPRECIATED BIRMINGHAM APCH CONCERN AND FLT FOLLOWING. THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHAT ALT WE SHOULD BE AT AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH.
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.