On a vector toward the airport due to sun position visibility problems an air carrier is held too hi...

Attributes
ACN	523680
Time
Date	200108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gfk.airport
State Reference	ND
Altitude	msl single value : 3600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	523680
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : separated traffic flight crew : executed go around
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were proceeding on the descent and then approach phase under grand forks ATC approach control. We were being vectored to the final approach course for the runway 35L localizer. Gfk cleared us to an altitude of 3600 ft MSL. We had difficulty spotting the airport due to the sun's shadowing, the reason we requested radar vectors. When we did see the airport visually, we stated so to ATC and anticipated being cleared for a 'visual approach.' they (ATC) held us at 3600 ft MSL, perhaps 3 mi on final for runway 35L. Another aircraft was departing/taking off on same runway. We believe ATC was preoccupied with that aircraft and forgot about us. It was obvious now we would not land because we are way too high (nearly 2800 ft above field elevation) and, I believe, because of the departing aircraft which seemed to be no problem for us. We were instructed to go around which ended up a success with a landing to follow. In conclusion, we feel ATC had us way too high, failed to grant us a visual approach when we called the aircraft in sight, and they were totally distracted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON A VECTOR TOWARD THE ARPT DUE TO SUN POS VISIBILITY PROBS AN ACR IS HELD TOO HIGH BY ATC WHO IS DISTRACTED BY DEPARTING TFC ON THE SAME RWY RESULTING IN A MISSED APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE PROCEEDING ON THE DSCNT AND THEN APCH PHASE UNDER GRAND FORKS ATC APCH CTL. WE WERE BEING VECTORED TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE FOR THE RWY 35L LOC. GFK CLRED US TO AN ALT OF 3600 FT MSL. WE HAD DIFFICULTY SPOTTING THE ARPT DUE TO THE SUN'S SHADOWING, THE REASON WE REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS. WHEN WE DID SEE THE ARPT VISUALLY, WE STATED SO TO ATC AND ANTICIPATED BEING CLRED FOR A 'VISUAL APCH.' THEY (ATC) HELD US AT 3600 FT MSL, PERHAPS 3 MI ON FINAL FOR RWY 35L. ANOTHER ACFT WAS DEPARTING/TAKING OFF ON SAME RWY. WE BELIEVE ATC WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH THAT ACFT AND FORGOT ABOUT US. IT WAS OBVIOUS NOW WE WOULD NOT LAND BECAUSE WE ARE WAY TOO HIGH (NEARLY 2800 FT ABOVE FIELD ELEVATION) AND, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE OF THE DEPARTING ACFT WHICH SEEMED TO BE NO PROB FOR US. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO GO AROUND WHICH ENDED UP A SUCCESS WITH A LNDG TO FOLLOW. IN CONCLUSION, WE FEEL ATC HAD US WAY TOO HIGH, FAILED TO GRANT US A VISUAL APCH WHEN WE CALLED THE ACFT IN SIGHT, AND THEY WERE TOTALLY DISTRACTED.

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.

On a vector toward the airport due to sun position visibility problems an air carrier is held too high by ATC who is distracted by departing traffic on the same runway resulting in a missed approach.