2011-03 · NASA ASRS report 938339
BFL TRACON Controller described a loss of MVA separation event involving an Regional Carrier and a Cessna during visual approach procedures during an attempt to sequence the Air Carrier in front of the Cessna.
I had two IFR aircraft on frequency. A C210 was inbound from the southeast on an ILS approach. ACR Y was inbound from the northwest being vectored for the ILS. Abeam the airport; the ACR reported the airport insight. I turned the ACR to a 210 heading to keep the aircraft in tight in front of the Centurion. The C210 reported the airport insight and I cleared the C210 for the visual approach. I then cleared the ACR for the Visual Approach. After clearing the ACR I noticed that he was extending southeast bound for his decent. I then noticed that the C210 had descended well below the MVA and would not be able to climb back up before separation was lost. I called the Tower and told them to cancel the ACR's approach clearance; heading 270; climb and maintain 030. The C210 then reported the ACR insight but a loss of separation had already occurred. I vectored the ACR back around for the visual approach and cleared the aircraft. Recommendation; I was attempting to get the ACR ahead of the Centurion aircraft expediting the air carrier. The air carrier in this case ended up being behind the centurion and was in the same sequence as I had previously planned. I should have placed the ACR behind the C210 like I had planned in the first place; or broken the C210 out and brought them around incurring a slight delay. I also could have called the Tower as they had both aircraft insight and could have provided visual separation.
I was staffing the Ground Control/Clearance Delivery position. The watch supervisor was also in the tower cab; observing the operation. On the D-Brite I could see an E120 and a C210 (also inbound to BFL on a visual approach). I overheard the Local Controller read back coordination from Approach for the E120 to 'fly heading 270; and climb and maintain 3;000'. The Local Controller immediately issued the clearance to the E120. The OS advised he had both aircraft in sight in an attempt to provide visual separation. At the time the E120 was 2;200 descending in a 2;300 MVA when the vector was issued. I advised the Local Controller not to vector the aircraft below the MVA; but the clearance was already issued; violating the MVA.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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