Air carrier First Officer reported an obstacle caution during approach. Flight crew reduced descent rate and continued the approach.

2026-01 · NASA ASRS report 2328286

Date: 2026-01 · Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing · Phase: approach

Anomalies: inflight-event-encounter-cftt-cfit

Synopsis

Air carrier First Officer reported an obstacle caution during approach. Flight crew reduced descent rate and continued the approach.

Narrative

Caution Obstacle was out during approach into Runway 36 at BHM. Flight condition was VFR. Altimeter settings were correct. We were cleared for a RNAV 36 approach into BHM but were already in VMC condition outside of FAF. Reason for selecting Runway 36 instead of 06 was wind. We were aware of 10-9 page warning and caution about obstacles and had situation awareness that it would be better to stay slightly above the advisory VNAV until getting closer to the runway. We were at or above published altitude of BHM RNAV 36 approach chart. We started to begin our CANPA style descent slightly late which made about 1/2 dot above the advisory VNAV. VS was selected -900 initially until the deviation was around 1/4 dot above and changed to -700. While maintaining descend path slight above on the advisory VNAV; we received Caution Obstacle. Autopilot was disengaged right away and reduced descend rate immediately. Since runway was already in sight; continued approach and landed.Suggestions: Updates on 10-9 page about the terrain between runway and FAF of RNAV 36 approach.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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