2009-12 · NASA ASRS report 862955
B737 flight crew describe an unstabilized approach to Runway 8 at ABQ. The Captain continued to land after multiple calls to go around were made by the First Officer.
We got cleared the visual to Runway 8 at ABQ. We were high but stable at the backup ILS FAF. Pilot flying delayed configuring but soon got configured with gear and flaps 40 (briefed 30). For some reason he delayed his descent and went all the way down the yellow arc on the speed indicator when I called airspeed. Then he began descending and S-turning to recapture glide path. I got clearance to maneuver from Tower and they offered Runway 3 to help us. The pilot flying did not respond with which runway he preferred so I reconfirmed 'cleared to land Runway 8' and was confirmed by the Tower. At 1;000 FT AGL we were offset to the right of runway centerline and still high; requiring more than 1;000 FPM. I suggested we go around and the pilot flying said he was comfortable. He was able to get on glide path by 500 FT but his airspeed and VVI was erratic so multiple calls were made to fix those. He asked for a return to 30 flaps and I declined saying we needed to stay with 40 inside 1;000 AGL. For some reason the pilot flying then locked on to the 2nd and 3rd VASIs instead of the 1st and 2nd and adjusted his glide path to match that. Once I; the pilot not flying; realized this and saw us going well above the normal glide path; I said let's go around now. He paused then said it was ok and he would continue. We were aligned with the runway and carrying a slightly higher than normal descent rate since he now was concentrating on landing in the normal landing zone. I elected to not take the aircraft to go around because I thought he might actually wrestle me for control and felt it was safer to let him land long on a long runway than fight for control at less than 30 FT AGL. We landed and taxied in uneventfully. Pilot flying said he was sorry and hoped it won't affect the rest our monthly flying together. I did not say anything. Before we pushed for our last leg of the night; he closed the event by saying we just need to put it behind us and concentrated on the next leg. I said nothing in response. I need to be more forceful and clearer earlier in the approach about what I see. I should not wait so long to contemplate taking the aircraft. I was relying more on my past experience as an Air Force Instructor for my comfort with the unstable approach than with Company standards and expectations. Pilot not flying called go-around twice for unstable approach below 1;000 FT but landing continued by pilot flying.
Flying into ABQ; descending IMC direct the ABQ VOR; the Captain flying briefed; was expecting; and was told by Approach; to expect a visual approach to 08 at ABQ. The Controller gave a vector southeast which had the plane between the FAF and ABQ VOR descending still in IMC. The Captain expected to be told to intercept the Localizer or to be cleared direct the FAF. As we broke out of the clouds into VMC; we were passing through the final; and at this time the Controller asked if we had the field. The Captain looked toward the field which was now northwest of the plane and saw the runway. The Captain said field in sight and was then cleared for the visual. We were now past final. The Captain turned directly toward the runway; leveled off to slow down; went to flaps 40; and then started his descent. He erred by going directly to the runway. We asked the Tower for S-turns to get down. The Tower asked the Crew if they would like Runway 03 instead. The Captain decided that 08 was fine; but in thinking about this; decreased his descent; putting him high.As the plane passed through 1;000 FT AGL; the plane was just coming into the stable profile; a bit high on the glideslope; and descending at 1;000 to 1;100 FPM. The First Officer called out something like; 'Go around;' or 'I think we should go around.' The Captain looked at the airspeed and sink rate and then outside. The plane was stable but a bit high; showing one red VASI bar and two white VASI bars. The Captain looked quickly over at the First Officer and said something like; 'I am going to land out of this; ok.'An uneventful landing was made and the plane taxied to the gate. At the gate the Captain debriefed the First Officer on the event and remarked something like; 'It would be interesting to see the data for that approach;' and discussed the 'go around' call out. The Captain would have preferred ATC Final Approach to have controlled the aircraft to intercept final instead of allowing the plane to go through final.When in IMC conditions that are expected to change to VMC; be proactive and ask for the approach to intercept the final; as too often Approach wants to clear you for the visual even if it means waiting to the last possible moment.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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