Cftt in las vegas traffic pattern.

Attributes
ACN	466728
Time
Date	200003
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las.airport
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
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	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	466728
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw aircraft equipment : gpws other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

ATC vectored us over las airport, then left to 180 degree heading, then 270 degrees for base at 8000 ft. We were asked to follow aircraft Y and were cleared for the visual approach to runway 19R. We did not have the runway or the airport in sight but knew the general location. We lost contact with aircraft Y flight due to the las vegas city lights. We continued what appeared to be an appropriate descent path to the airport. We got a GPWS 'terrain' warning at 4000 ft or below and immediately added power and climbed. Soon after our climb initiated, ATC advised us of a low altitude alert and to climb to 5000 ft. Upon reaching 5000 ft, the runway came in sight and we made a normal landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CFTT IN LAS VEGAS TFC PATTERN.

Narrative: ATC VECTORED US OVER LAS ARPT, THEN L TO 180 DEG HDG, THEN 270 DEGS FOR BASE AT 8000 FT. WE WERE ASKED TO FOLLOW ACFT Y AND WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 19R. WE DID NOT HAVE THE RWY OR THE ARPT IN SIGHT BUT KNEW THE GENERAL LOCATION. WE LOST CONTACT WITH ACFT Y FLT DUE TO THE LAS VEGAS CITY LIGHTS. WE CONTINUED WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN APPROPRIATE DSCNT PATH TO THE ARPT. WE GOT A GPWS 'TERRAIN' WARNING AT 4000 FT OR BELOW AND IMMEDIATELY ADDED PWR AND CLBED. SOON AFTER OUR CLB INITIATED, ATC ADVISED US OF A LOW ALT ALERT AND TO CLB TO 5000 FT. UPON REACHING 5000 FT, THE RWY CAME IN SIGHT AND WE MADE A NORMAL LNDG.

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.