Airliner encounters false glide slope.

Attributes
ACN	114026
Time
Date	198906
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : alb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : alb
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : alb
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	114026
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	114031
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On approach to runway 19, albany, ny, given descent to 2500' MSL and a right turn to 180 degree. Used ILS feature of autoplt and got good cockpit indications of localizer and glide slope capture, after we were cleared for the approach. At 1600' MSL autoplt was disconnected and level off commenced. Then (shortly after) ATC advised of a low altitude warning. Leveled off at 2000' MSL and then ATC gave a new heading to intercept VOR 19 approach course. On short final ATC said that they had had false glide slope indications throughout the day. We had not been advised previously by ATC or ATIS information of any potential problems. Uneventful approach and landing followed. One aircraft landed immediately after us and then a runway change followed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIRLINER ENCOUNTERS FALSE GLIDE SLOPE.

Narrative: ON APCH TO RWY 19, ALBANY, NY, GIVEN DSCNT TO 2500' MSL AND A RIGHT TURN TO 180 DEG. USED ILS FEATURE OF AUTOPLT AND GOT GOOD COCKPIT INDICATIONS OF LOC AND GLIDE SLOPE CAPTURE, AFTER WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH. AT 1600' MSL AUTOPLT WAS DISCONNECTED AND LEVEL OFF COMMENCED. THEN (SHORTLY AFTER) ATC ADVISED OF A LOW ALT WARNING. LEVELED OFF AT 2000' MSL AND THEN ATC GAVE A NEW HDG TO INTERCEPT VOR 19 APCH COURSE. ON SHORT FINAL ATC SAID THAT THEY HAD HAD FALSE GLIDE SLOPE INDICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WE HAD NOT BEEN ADVISED PREVIOUSLY BY ATC OR ATIS INFO OF ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. UNEVENTFUL APCH AND LNDG FOLLOWED. ONE ACFT LANDED IMMEDIATELY AFTER US AND THEN A RWY CHANGE FOLLOWED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.