Bfl TRACON controller described a loss of MVA separation event involving an regional carrier and a c...

Narrative:

I had two IFR aircraft on frequency. A C210 was inbound from the southeast on an ILS approach. Air carrier Y was inbound from the northwest being vectored for the ILS. Abeam the airport; the air carrier reported the airport insight. I turned the air carrier to a 210 heading to keep the aircraft in tight in front of the centurion. The C210 reported the airport insight and I cleared the C210 for the visual approach. I then cleared the air carrier for the visual approach. After clearing the air carrier I noticed that he was extending southeast bound for his decent. I then noticed that the C210 had descended well below the MVA and would not be able to climb back up before separation was lost. I called the tower and told them to cancel the air carrier's approach clearance; heading 270; climb and maintain 030. The C210 then reported the air carrier insight but a loss of separation had already occurred. I vectored the air carrier back around for the visual approach and cleared the aircraft. Recommendation; I was attempting to get the air carrier ahead of the centurion aircraft expediting the air carrier. The air carrier in this case ended up being behind the centurion and was in the same sequence as I had previously planned. I should have placed the air carrier behind the C210 like I had planned in the first place; or broken the C210 out and brought them around incurring a slight delay. I also could have called the tower as they had both aircraft insight and could have provided visual separation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BFL TRACON Controller described a loss of MVA separation event involving an Regional Carrier and a Cessna during visual approach procedures during an attempt to sequence the Air Carrier in front of the Cessna.

Narrative: I had two IFR aircraft on frequency. A C210 was inbound from the southeast on an ILS approach. ACR Y was inbound from the northwest being vectored for the ILS. Abeam the airport; the ACR reported the airport insight. I turned the ACR to a 210 heading to keep the aircraft in tight in front of the Centurion. The C210 reported the airport insight and I cleared the C210 for the visual approach. I then cleared the ACR for the Visual Approach. After clearing the ACR I noticed that he was extending southeast bound for his decent. I then noticed that the C210 had descended well below the MVA and would not be able to climb back up before separation was lost. I called the Tower and told them to cancel the ACR's approach clearance; heading 270; climb and maintain 030. The C210 then reported the ACR insight but a loss of separation had already occurred. I vectored the ACR back around for the visual approach and cleared the aircraft. Recommendation; I was attempting to get the ACR ahead of the Centurion aircraft expediting the air carrier. The air carrier in this case ended up being behind the centurion and was in the same sequence as I had previously planned. I should have placed the ACR behind the C210 like I had planned in the first place; or broken the C210 out and brought them around incurring a slight delay. I also could have called the Tower as they had both aircraft insight and could have provided visual separation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	938339
Time
Date	201103
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	BFL.TRACON
State Reference	CA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C 210D
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Light Transport Low Wing 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Ground Flight Data / Clearance Delivery Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Bfl TRACON controller described a loss of MVA separation event involving an regional carrier and a cessna during visual approach procedures during an attempt to sequence the air carrier in front of the cessna.