 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Air carrier medium large transport unable to complete visual approach to sfo when flight encountered clouds over the bay and lost sight of the airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 86951 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198805 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : sfo |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : oak |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : visual enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 50 |
| ASRS Report | 86951 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
We were being vectored to the downwind for the runway 28R visual. The controller cleared us for the visual approach to 28R. A short time later (30-45 seconds) while still on downwind, we lost sight of the runway. We immediately told the controller our situation. The controllers response was, 'in the future, let us know of the problem sooner, for I have aircraft inbound for straight in visuals to 28R.' we were then given a left turn (approximately 20 degrees) and sequenced behind another aircraft and cleared for the runway 28R visual. I feel that the WX (low ceiling) was the major cause of this situation. Requesting the ILS on our part would have certainly helped matters for us, but perhaps not for ATC and their traffic flow. Next time in the same situation, no question, requesting the ILS and take the delay.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ACR MLG UNABLE TO COMPLETE VISUAL APCH TO SFO WHEN FLT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS OVER THE BAY AND LOST SIGHT OF THE ARPT.
Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED TO THE DOWNWIND FOR THE RWY 28R VISUAL. THE CTLR CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO 28R. A SHORT TIME LATER (30-45 SECS) WHILE STILL ON DOWNWIND, WE LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY. WE IMMEDIATELY TOLD THE CTLR OUR SITUATION. THE CTLRS RESPONSE WAS, 'IN THE FUTURE, LET US KNOW OF THE PROB SOONER, FOR I HAVE ACFT INBND FOR STRAIGHT IN VISUALS TO 28R.' WE WERE THEN GIVEN A LEFT TURN (APPROX 20 DEGS) AND SEQUENCED BEHIND ANOTHER ACFT AND CLRED FOR THE RWY 28R VISUAL. I FEEL THAT THE WX (LOW CEILING) WAS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THIS SITUATION. REQUESTING THE ILS ON OUR PART WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY HELPED MATTERS FOR US, BUT PERHAPS NOT FOR ATC AND THEIR TFC FLOW. NEXT TIME IN THE SAME SITUATION, NO QUESTION, REQUESTING THE ILS AND TAKE THE DELAY.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.