<< >> NASA ASRS Report 456097, November 1999

B737 crew descends too early and encroaches on class D airspace below the phx class B airspace when clearance for visual approach is confused.

Attributes
ACN	456097
Time
Date	199911
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3100 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p50.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 11700 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	456097
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Being vectored for visual approach to phx runway 26L behind a crossing dash 8 who was being vectored for runway 26R. After calling the airport, and later the dash 8 in sight, we were told to intercept final for runway 26L behind the dash 8. We had previously been cleared to 4000 ft. We were told to follow the dash 8 (except that he was going to runway 27R and we were going ot runway 26L). We both thought we'd been cleared for the visual behind the dash 8 and I dialed 3100 ft into the MCP to comply with the normal charted visual approach restrs (which are for noise abatement) even though we were cleared for the 'visual' rather than the 'charted visual' approach. After initiating the descent, the controller asked us to return to 4000 ft to remain clear of the falcon (airport) traffic pattern. Prior to this command, I had noted to the first officer that GA traffic on the left (low) was in sight. Telling us specifically to follow the dash 8 and maintain 4000 ft until 'X' DME or until further advised would have clarified the situation for us. If in doubt, we would have questioned the controller, but for the 'visual' we were both convinced we'd been cleared.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW DSNDS TOO EARLY AND ENCROACHES ON CLASS D AIRSPACE BELOW THE PHX CLASS B AIRSPACE WHEN CLRNC FOR VISUAL APCH IS CONFUSED.

Narrative: BEING VECTORED FOR VISUAL APCH TO PHX RWY 26L BEHIND A XING DASH 8 WHO WAS BEING VECTORED FOR RWY 26R. AFTER CALLING THE ARPT, AND LATER THE DASH 8 IN SIGHT, WE WERE TOLD TO INTERCEPT FINAL FOR RWY 26L BEHIND THE DASH 8. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CLRED TO 4000 FT. WE WERE TOLD TO FOLLOW THE DASH 8 (EXCEPT THAT HE WAS GOING TO RWY 27R AND WE WERE GOING OT RWY 26L). WE BOTH THOUGHT WE'D BEEN CLRED FOR THE VISUAL BEHIND THE DASH 8 AND I DIALED 3100 FT INTO THE MCP TO COMPLY WITH THE NORMAL CHARTED VISUAL APCH RESTRS (WHICH ARE FOR NOISE ABATEMENT) EVEN THOUGH WE WERE CLRED FOR THE 'VISUAL' RATHER THAN THE 'CHARTED VISUAL' APCH. AFTER INITIATING THE DSCNT, THE CTLR ASKED US TO RETURN TO 4000 FT TO REMAIN CLR OF THE FALCON (ARPT) TFC PATTERN. PRIOR TO THIS COMMAND, I HAD NOTED TO THE FO THAT GA TFC ON THE L (LOW) WAS IN SIGHT. TELLING US SPECIFICALLY TO FOLLOW THE DASH 8 AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT UNTIL 'X' DME OR UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED WOULD HAVE CLARIFIED THE SIT FOR US. IF IN DOUBT, WE WOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE CTLR, BUT FOR THE 'VISUAL' WE WERE BOTH CONVINCED WE'D BEEN CLRED.

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.