B737-300 flight crew overshoots final on a visual approach, corrects error, and lands safely.

Attributes
ACN	573018
Time
Date	200302
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon tower : den.tower tower : egll.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
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 : atp
ASRS Report	573018
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Crew overshot runway 35L final approach course by 2600 ft to the east while turning final on a visual approach clearance. Established on a vector of 090 degrees and descending through 8500-8000 ft assigned. ATC assigned a vector of 030 degrees and asked if the airport was in sight. PNF 'stated field in sight.' crew was assigned visual approach to runway 35L. PNF acknowledged visual approach to ATC. PF continued descent through 8000 ft while turning to final course. PNF then stated '8000 ft.' PF queried the PNF 'did he clear us for the visual?' PNF stated 'yes, and I acknowledged.' PF stated set 7000 ft for dymon and continued the descent on glide path. PF had inadvertently leveled the wings during the altitude query and overshot. PF initiated corrective action with left turn (330 degree heading approximately) to established final approach course to runway 35L. Tower controller issued instructions to 'correct to final' upon initial check-in. This overshoot was caused by a temporary loss of situational awareness. When the PNF questioned the PF's decision to descend on the visual approach clearance, the PF failed to maintain an appropriate angle of bank to intercept the final approach course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLT CREW OVERSHOOTS FINAL ON A VISUAL APCH, CORRECTS ERROR, AND LANDS SAFELY.

Narrative: CREW OVERSHOT RWY 35L FINAL APCH COURSE BY 2600 FT TO THE E WHILE TURNING FINAL ON A VISUAL APCH CLRNC. ESTABLISHED ON A VECTOR OF 090 DEGS AND DSNDING THROUGH 8500-8000 FT ASSIGNED. ATC ASSIGNED A VECTOR OF 030 DEGS AND ASKED IF THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT. PNF 'STATED FIELD IN SIGHT.' CREW WAS ASSIGNED VISUAL APCH TO RWY 35L. PNF ACKNOWLEDGED VISUAL APCH TO ATC. PF CONTINUED DSCNT THROUGH 8000 FT WHILE TURNING TO FINAL COURSE. PNF THEN STATED '8000 FT.' PF QUERIED THE PNF 'DID HE CLR US FOR THE VISUAL?' PNF STATED 'YES, AND I ACKNOWLEDGED.' PF STATED SET 7000 FT FOR DYMON AND CONTINUED THE DSCNT ON GLIDE PATH. PF HAD INADVERTENTLY LEVELED THE WINGS DURING THE ALT QUERY AND OVERSHOT. PF INITIATED CORRECTIVE ACTION WITH L TURN (330 DEG HDG APPROX) TO ESTABLISHED FINAL APCH COURSE TO RWY 35L. TWR CTLR ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO 'CORRECT TO FINAL' UPON INITIAL CHK-IN. THIS OVERSHOOT WAS CAUSED BY A TEMPORARY LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. WHEN THE PNF QUESTIONED THE PF'S DECISION TO DSND ON THE VISUAL APCH CLRNC, THE PF FAILED TO MAINTAIN AN APPROPRIATE ANGLE OF BANK TO INTERCEPT THE FINAL APCH COURSE.

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.