Narrative:

We were high and fast when ATC turned us loose for a visual approach via a right base to runway 25L. As I could see this approach would be challenging, I orally highlighted the FAF crossing altitude to my flying first officer as a clue to get configured for a steep approach. He subsequently recognized the need to get down and configure. At approximately 1000 ft MSL, I stated 'we should go around,' yet he didn't hear me. I was about to repeat myself when I could see he was coming close to meeting our stabilized approach criteria. Reflecting on this fast-paced effort to force progress (a landing) at the expense of prudence, I regret (even though the landing was safely accomplished in the touchdown zone) not more forcefully commanding a go around -- as 'close' to meeting prescribed criteria was not meeting the criteria. Perhaps my hesitation stemmed from my familiarity with his skills, as we had flown together numerous times on another fleet. Perhaps, too, there was an element of deference as he was not long ago in the captain's seat before economic events reversed his career path. Regardless, in future approach briefs, I'll not only cover the IAP (procedure) through a possible missed, but remind us of the obligatory go around if stabilized criteria aren't met. No time for questions -- no hard feelings.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF B757 CONTINUE UNSTABILIZED APCH INTO LAX DESPITE RECOGNIZING COMPANY SOP REQUIRED A GAR IF NOT STABILIZED AT 1000 FT AGL.

Narrative: WE WERE HIGH AND FAST WHEN ATC TURNED US LOOSE FOR A VISUAL APCH VIA A R BASE TO RWY 25L. AS I COULD SEE THIS APCH WOULD BE CHALLENGING, I ORALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE FAF XING ALT TO MY FLYING FO AS A CLUE TO GET CONFIGURED FOR A STEEP APCH. HE SUBSEQUENTLY RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO GET DOWN AND CONFIGURE. AT APPROX 1000 FT MSL, I STATED 'WE SHOULD GO AROUND,' YET HE DIDN'T HEAR ME. I WAS ABOUT TO REPEAT MYSELF WHEN I COULD SEE HE WAS COMING CLOSE TO MEETING OUR STABILIZED APCH CRITERIA. REFLECTING ON THIS FAST-PACED EFFORT TO FORCE PROGRESS (A LNDG) AT THE EXPENSE OF PRUDENCE, I REGRET (EVEN THOUGH THE LNDG WAS SAFELY ACCOMPLISHED IN THE TOUCHDOWN ZONE) NOT MORE FORCEFULLY COMMANDING A GAR -- AS 'CLOSE' TO MEETING PRESCRIBED CRITERIA WAS NOT MEETING THE CRITERIA. PERHAPS MY HESITATION STEMMED FROM MY FAMILIARITY WITH HIS SKILLS, AS WE HAD FLOWN TOGETHER NUMEROUS TIMES ON ANOTHER FLEET. PERHAPS, TOO, THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF DEFERENCE AS HE WAS NOT LONG AGO IN THE CAPT'S SEAT BEFORE ECONOMIC EVENTS REVERSED HIS CAREER PATH. REGARDLESS, IN FUTURE APCH BRIEFS, I'LL NOT ONLY COVER THE IAP (PROC) THROUGH A POSSIBLE MISSED, BUT REMIND US OF THE OBLIGATORY GAR IF STABILIZED CRITERIA AREN'T MET. NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS -- NO HARD FEELINGS.

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.