Narrative:

Our aircraft was directed to fly a visual approach 2 mi in-trail of an MD88 and instructed to maintain 170 KIAS. The controller stated that the spacing would work, even over my objections to being that close. When we contacted the atl tower, they told us to reduce to final approach speed, that we were too close to the aircraft in front of us. He suggested that we make s-turns, too. I refused the idea of doing s-turns on final at night below 1000 ft AGL. I told the controller that s-turning in such a manner did not meet the 'stabilized on final below 1000 ft AGL' criteria. We were directed to 'go around' and return for another approach, this time behind an airbus. To keep the same situation from developing again I directed the copilot to maintain spacing by reducing airspeed to 160 KIAS, instead of flying at the assigned 170 KIAS. The controller asked me what airspeed we were flying, and I told him 160 KIAS. We were getting low on fuel (it was not yet an issue but would have been after making another go around).

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW AT ATL WAS GIVEN A GAR AFTER BEING ISSUED A VISUAL APCH 2 MI BEHIND TFC AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 170 KTS SPD.

Narrative: OUR ACFT WAS DIRECTED TO FLY A VISUAL APCH 2 MI IN-TRAIL OF AN MD88 AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 170 KIAS. THE CTLR STATED THAT THE SPACING WOULD WORK, EVEN OVER MY OBJECTIONS TO BEING THAT CLOSE. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE ATL TWR, THEY TOLD US TO REDUCE TO FINAL APCH SPD, THAT WE WERE TOO CLOSE TO THE ACFT IN FRONT OF US. HE SUGGESTED THAT WE MAKE S-TURNS, TOO. I REFUSED THE IDEA OF DOING S-TURNS ON FINAL AT NIGHT BELOW 1000 FT AGL. I TOLD THE CTLR THAT S-TURNING IN SUCH A MANNER DID NOT MEET THE 'STABILIZED ON FINAL BELOW 1000 FT AGL' CRITERIA. WE WERE DIRECTED TO 'GO AROUND' AND RETURN FOR ANOTHER APCH, THIS TIME BEHIND AN AIRBUS. TO KEEP THE SAME SIT FROM DEVELOPING AGAIN I DIRECTED THE COPLT TO MAINTAIN SPACING BY REDUCING AIRSPD TO 160 KIAS, INSTEAD OF FLYING AT THE ASSIGNED 170 KIAS. THE CTLR ASKED ME WHAT AIRSPD WE WERE FLYING, AND I TOLD HIM 160 KIAS. WE WERE GETTING LOW ON FUEL (IT WAS NOT YET AN ISSUE BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN AFTER MAKING ANOTHER GAR).

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.