Sba TRACON controller voiced concern regarding tower actions; when TRACON missed approach instructio...

Attributes
ACN	797742
Time
Date	200807
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sba.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sba.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar controller : local controller : approach
Person 2
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 16 controller time certified in position2 : 24
ASRS Report	797742
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I issued the approach clearance and shipped the aircraft to tower. The tower controller in charge who was being trained called to advise the aircraft was executing a missed approach and that tower would be keeping the aircraft. I asked why and did not get an adequate answer (eg; he's on the visual). So; I issued alternate missed approach instructions 'fly runway heading; maintain 3000 ft.' the controller in charge trainer asserted his authority/authorized. Subsequently; I observed the aircraft flying in a 4000 ft MVA at 3000 ft (mode C). I issued a low-altitude alert to tower (local control). I subsequently listened to all the tapes and learned the aircraft called missed approach; reporting 'we never saw anything.' the local controller asked the pilot if he could bring him around for runway 7. The pilot said alright. The local controller issued a visual approach without asking the pilot if they had the field in sight. Subsequently; the pilot repeated 'we never saw anything' and 'we do not have the field in sight.' the controller acknowledged this but did not issue a safe altitude and heading. Training on controller in charge was a factor; as they coordinated badly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SBA TRACON CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING TWR ACTIONS; WHEN TRACON MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS WERE COUNTERED BY TWR'S ATTEMPT TO ISSUE A VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: I ISSUED THE APCH CLRNC AND SHIPPED THE ACFT TO TWR. THE TWR CIC WHO WAS BEING TRAINED CALLED TO ADVISE THE ACFT WAS EXECUTING A MISSED APCH AND THAT TWR WOULD BE KEEPING THE ACFT. I ASKED WHY AND DID NOT GET AN ADEQUATE ANSWER (EG; HE'S ON THE VISUAL). SO; I ISSUED ALTERNATE MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS 'FLY RWY HDG; MAINTAIN 3000 FT.' THE CIC TRAINER ASSERTED HIS AUTH. SUBSEQUENTLY; I OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING IN A 4000 FT MVA AT 3000 FT (MODE C). I ISSUED A LOW-ALT ALERT TO TWR (LCL CTL). I SUBSEQUENTLY LISTENED TO ALL THE TAPES AND LEARNED THE ACFT CALLED MISSED APCH; RPTING 'WE NEVER SAW ANYTHING.' THE LCL CTLR ASKED THE PLT IF HE COULD BRING HIM AROUND FOR RWY 7. THE PLT SAID ALRIGHT. THE LCL CTLR ISSUED A VISUAL APCH WITHOUT ASKING THE PLT IF THEY HAD THE FIELD IN SIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY; THE PLT REPEATED 'WE NEVER SAW ANYTHING' AND 'WE DO NOT HAVE THE FIELD IN SIGHT.' THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED THIS BUT DID NOT ISSUE A SAFE ALT AND HDG. TRAINING ON CIC WAS A FACTOR; AS THEY COORDINATED BADLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.

Sba TRACON controller voiced concern regarding tower actions; when TRACON missed approach instructions were countered by tower's attempt to issue a visual approach.