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Tower observer questioned the local controllers issuance of a 360 turn to an aircraft issued a visual approach that resulted in a below MVA event.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 954090 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201106 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Tower |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-34-200 Seneca I |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Other / Unknown |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT |
Narrative:
A PA34 was on an IFR flight plan and cleared for a visual approach to runway 28R. On a 5 mile final; local control instructed the aircraft to make a left 360-degree turn for spacing behind preceding traffic. Approximately 12 seconds later; the aircraft was instructed to maintain at or below 5;500. The aircraft was at 4;300 and turned into an antenna farm where the highest obstruction is 4;259. The MVA in this area is 5;300. The aircraft began a climb as he passed within 3/4 mile of the highest obstruction. The antenna farm is depicted on the local controller's radar map. Recommendation; determine if this was; in fact; an operational error and transmit the determination to the facility. I believe that the assignment of an altitude of 'at or below 5;500 ft to an IFR aircraft violated jo 7110.65; par. 5-5-9a1; separation from obstructions; and was therefore an operator error.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Tower observer questioned the Local Controllers issuance of a 360 turn to an aircraft issued a Visual Approach that resulted in a below MVA event.
Narrative: A PA34 was on an IFR flight plan and cleared for a visual approach to Runway 28R. On a 5 mile final; Local Control instructed the aircraft to make a left 360-degree turn for spacing behind preceding traffic. Approximately 12 seconds later; the aircraft was instructed to maintain at or below 5;500. The aircraft was at 4;300 and turned into an antenna farm where the highest obstruction is 4;259. The MVA in this area is 5;300. The aircraft began a climb as he passed within 3/4 mile of the highest obstruction. The antenna farm is depicted on the Local Controller's RADAR map. Recommendation; determine if this was; in fact; an Operational Error and transmit the determination to the facility. I believe that the assignment of an altitude of 'at or below 5;500 FT to an IFR aircraft violated JO 7110.65; par. 5-5-9a1; Separation From Obstructions; and was therefore an Operator Error.
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.