B737NG flight crew reported executing a go-around from a low altitude after spacing issues became apparent. Earlier in the flight they encountered wake turbulence that resulted in airspeed loss of 10-15 knots.
Synopsis
B737NG flight crew reported executing a go-around from a low altitude after spacing issues became apparent. Earlier in the flight they encountered wake turbulence that resulted in airspeed loss of 10-15 knots.
Narrative
SFO was down to single runway for arrivals today. They were essentially vectoring holding and then putting aircraft in line for approach. Our initial vectors to final were close enough to the aircraft in front of us that we inadvertently flew through wake turbulence; increasing our pitch and dropping our airspeed by 10-15 knots rapidly. Airspeed loss was not outside range of current configuration; but slower than ATC directed. This occurred at 8 mile final. I disengaged autopilot and hand flew approach from approximately 3000 AGL. Soon after; Tower directed us to slow to slowest practical and maintain. We slowed from originally directed 180 to 154. At 5 mile final we were cleared to land. At approximately 3.5 mile final for 28R SFO; Tower cleared an aircraft for takeoff on 1R. We were in VMC conditions so we continued the approach looking for line of sight and impending rotation of departing aircraft. At approximately 400 ft AGL my First Officer saw beginning of crossing runway takeoff aircraft rotation. Just before the PM approaching minimums call; we heard our call sign go-around from Tower. We executed go-around per FM and were given subsequent radar vectors for same runway; landing uneventfully.
Second reporter narrative
ATC directed go around at 500 AGL on visual approach to Runway 36R. We were vectored back for another visual approach on Runway 36R. We landed the flight safely without further incident.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.