B737 captain reports being high and fast during CAT III ILS to runway 16R using hgs. While attemptin...

Narrative:

Vectored for ILS 16R by sea approach control. Weather was low ceiling and limited visibility so we had briefed; and were executing an hgs [head up guidance system] cat III approach. Aircraft was high on downwind and early base turn was directed by ATC. I had landing gear extended and slowed to extend flaps to twenty five. ATC queried several times if we would be able to 'get down.' our response was that we would continue trying. After localizer intercept; we determined that we would likely be configured and stable no later then FAF 'opvee.' hgs CAT III mode was acquired and we continued approach past opvee expecting to acquire runway visually at 300 ft AGL. [At] approximately 800 ft AGL; sea tower issued us a low altitude warning and to immediately check our altitude. As we were still IMC; I commanded and executed a missed approach to sort out any anomaly at a safe altitude. All aircraft instruments and systems indicated normal; i.e. Current altimeter setting; local frequencies; etc. No flags or aural warnings were activated on aircraft. We were vectored for; and executed a second CAT III approach to 16R and happily intercepted glide slope from below; achieving an uneventful landing on 16R. [This missed approach was caused by] ATC directing aircraft to stay too high; keep approach speeds too fast and turning base leg too soon during low weather approaches.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reports being high and fast during CAT III ILS to Runway 16R using HGS. While attempting to intercept the glideslope the Tower issues a low altitude warning and the crew goes around.

Narrative: Vectored for ILS 16R by SEA Approach Control. Weather was low ceiling and limited visibility so we had briefed; and were executing an HGS [Head up Guidance System] Cat III approach. Aircraft was high on downwind and early base turn was directed by ATC. I had landing gear extended and slowed to extend flaps to twenty five. ATC queried several times if we would be able to 'get down.' Our response was that we would continue trying. After localizer intercept; we determined that we would likely be configured and stable no later then FAF 'OPVEE.' HGS CAT III mode was acquired and we continued approach past OPVEE expecting to acquire runway visually at 300 FT AGL. [At] approximately 800 FT AGL; SEA Tower issued us a low altitude warning and to immediately check our altitude. As we were still IMC; I commanded and executed a missed approach to sort out any anomaly at a safe altitude. All aircraft instruments and systems indicated normal; i.e. current altimeter setting; local frequencies; etc. No flags or aural warnings were activated on aircraft. We were vectored for; and executed a second CAT III approach to 16R and happily intercepted glide slope from below; achieving an uneventful landing on 16R. [This missed approach was caused by] ATC directing aircraft to stay too high; keep approach speeds too fast and turning base leg too soon during low weather approaches.

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	954832
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	SEA.Airport
State Reference	WA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach

B737 captain reports being high and fast during CAT III ILS to runway 16R using hgs. While attempting to intercept the glideslope the tower issues a low altitude warning and the crew goes around.