<< >> NASA ASRS Report 472515, April 2000

B737 crew cleared for visual approach to oak, ca, with 2000 ft altitude restr until the oak 6 DME followed the GS to the runway resulting in crossing the 6 DME below 2000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	472515
Time
Date	200004
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : oak.ils
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 29 other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	472515
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was cleared to fly the visual approach runway 29 with the restr that I maintain 2000 ft or higher until passing 6 DME oak. I intercepted the GS which took me below 2000 ft prior to 6 DME. I had assumed the GS would keep me in compliance with the 2000 ft 6 DME restr. Unfortunately, I noticed it didn't until too late -- my fault! However, I would not have accepted the clearance which would keep me above the GS at 2000 ft AGL had I known this. It is dangerous to dive to catch a GS below 2000 ft AGL. It is also dangerous to issue this type of clearance because it is very easy to assume the GS will keep you in compliance. I bet pilots violate this restr numerous times each day. Although no harm came out of my incident, the airspace near oak should be revised so that this type of clearance is unnecessary.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH TO OAK, CA, WITH 2000 FT ALT RESTR UNTIL THE OAK 6 DME FOLLOWED THE GS TO THE RWY RESULTING IN XING THE 6 DME BELOW 2000 FT.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED TO FLY THE VISUAL APCH RWY 29 WITH THE RESTR THAT I MAINTAIN 2000 FT OR HIGHER UNTIL PASSING 6 DME OAK. I INTERCEPTED THE GS WHICH TOOK ME BELOW 2000 FT PRIOR TO 6 DME. I HAD ASSUMED THE GS WOULD KEEP ME IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE 2000 FT 6 DME RESTR. UNFORTUNATELY, I NOTICED IT DIDN'T UNTIL TOO LATE -- MY FAULT! HOWEVER, I WOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED THE CLRNC WHICH WOULD KEEP ME ABOVE THE GS AT 2000 FT AGL HAD I KNOWN THIS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DIVE TO CATCH A GS BELOW 2000 FT AGL. IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS TO ISSUE THIS TYPE OF CLRNC BECAUSE IT IS VERY EASY TO ASSUME THE GS WILL KEEP YOU IN COMPLIANCE. I BET PLTS VIOLATE THIS RESTR NUMEROUS TIMES EACH DAY. ALTHOUGH NO HARM CAME OUT OF MY INCIDENT, THE AIRSPACE NEAR OAK SHOULD BE REVISED SO THAT THIS TYPE OF CLRNC IS UNNECESSARY.

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.