An air carrier crew on a night visual approach to dfw runway 31L received a momentary GPWS caution o...

Attributes
ACN	1059618
Time
Date	201301
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	DAL.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach

Narrative:

We were cleared for the visual approach to 31L at dal heading for the final approach fix. My first officer started a turn for the airport inside the final approach fix and that created a conflict with the building just east of the final. I knew this; but I let the approach continue for too long. I mentioned I thought we were a bit low for our position; and then the caution obstacle aural warning sounded. Our flight path was taking us just inside the building but just close enough to trigger the caution. He started a normal go-around and immediately the caution was silenced as I saw the building was behind us. I allowed the go-around maneuver to be discontinued and that is my mistake. My first officer handled the aircraft smoothly as no one knew we started a missed approach. In the future I will make sure the normal go-around maneuver is completed and be prepared to execute a terrain avoidance maneuver. I'm also aware of the 10-7 pages referencing this exact problem and I'm frustrated with myself for letting the approach continue to that point.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier crew on a night visual approach to DFW Runway 31L received a momentary GPWS CAUTION OBSTACLE but discontinued the escape maneuver to continue the approach when the CAUTION ceased.

Narrative: We were cleared for the visual approach to 31L at DAL heading for the Final Approach Fix. My First Officer started a turn for the airport inside the Final Approach Fix and that created a conflict with the building just east of the final. I knew this; but I let the approach continue for too long. I mentioned I thought we were a bit low for our position; and then the Caution Obstacle Aural warning sounded. Our flight path was taking us just inside the building but just close enough to trigger the caution. He started a normal go-around and immediately the caution was silenced as I saw the building was behind us. I allowed the go-around maneuver to be discontinued and that is my mistake. My First Officer handled the aircraft smoothly as no one knew we started a missed approach. In the future I will make sure the normal go-around maneuver is completed and be prepared to execute a terrain avoidance maneuver. I'm also aware of the 10-7 pages referencing this exact problem and I'm frustrated with myself for letting the approach continue to that point.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

An air carrier crew on a night visual approach to dfw runway 31L received a momentary GPWS caution obstacle but discontinued the escape maneuver to continue the approach when the caution ceased.