Q400 flight crew reports unstabilized approach after late runway change and ATC handling contributed to the crew being high. Fatigue from a long duty day was also cited as a factor.
Synopsis
Q400 flight crew reports unstabilized approach after late runway change and ATC handling contributed to the crew being high. Fatigue from a long duty day was also cited as a factor.
Narrative
We briefed the approach and were planning on XXR. Approach then cleared us for XXL. This required us to brief the new approach per SOP. Approach control also kept us high on the approach requiring us to slow down and descend at a higher than normal descent rate to be in a position to land. We were approximately 5-7 miles away when we realized we were going to be too high and ATC approved a 360 to land. Upon completion of the 360 we were stabilized for landing around 700-800 FT. We then completed a normal landing with no further incident. After landing the First Officer and I talked about the approach and decided that although it wasn't unsafe it could have been better. We could have asked for delay vectors or executed a missed approach. I think there were a couple of reasons; the main reason being fatigue. Our original pairing had us doing a turn but that was canceled. We had come in at XA:25 and were originally due out at XF:30 which kept being pushed back until we finally departed at XI:52. We were not allowed to leave the airport so we ended up staying in the airport for almost nine hours between our two flights. That is more time than the average person works in a day. I believe the other reason the event occurred was Approach Control changing the expected runway and us in turn having to get set up for and brief the approach which subsequently caused us to be high for the approach. I think that if we have a flight cancellation and we are going to be expected to stay at the airport for more than say five hours that we should be released to go to a hotel/crash pad/quiet room so we can be refreshed when it is time for us to do our next flight
Second reporter narrative
It became apparent after full landing configuration and completion of checklists that we would not be able to make a stable approach/landing. The last minute change in landing runway by ATC and the need to re-brief and re-program the FMS and set up for the approach caused us to fall behind in our situational awareness when we were so close to the airport. Although the outcome was fine and no incident occurred it had the potential to be unsafe.
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.