B737 flight crew executed a go-around after forgetting to set final flaps and complete the before la...

Narrative:

Cleared for a visual approach at ZZZ. We selected LNAV and began to configure for the approach. The weather was VMC and we were easily going to be within stabilized criteria. Approaching [FAF]; the first officer (first officer) directed landing gear down and flaps 15. At that point; tower advised us of our closure with company ahead; that another company would be departing before us; asked us to slow to final approach speed; and pointed out traffic out of [a nearby airport]. The first officer directed me to set target [speed]. As I brought my attention back inside; I noticed we were low on glideslope and slightly fast. We made the 1000 feet call; I made deviation calls; unfortunately (because of outside distractions) we both missed configuring to flaps 30 and completing the before landing checklist. At 500 feet; we received a 'too low flaps' warning. I directed a go-around. We executed the go-around and came back around for an uneventful approach and landing.as pilot monitoring; I needed to spend more time inside the cockpit ensuring compliance of procedures. The pilot flying needed to concentrate more on the task at hand and not let outside factors distract his attention. Don't let outside distractions divert attention during critical phases of flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew executed a go-around after forgetting to set final flaps and complete the Before Landing Checklist due to attention outside the cockpit on ATC reported traffic concerns.

Narrative: Cleared for a visual approach at ZZZ. We selected LNAV and began to configure for the approach. The weather was VMC and we were easily going to be within stabilized criteria. Approaching [FAF]; the First Officer (FO) directed landing gear down and flaps 15. At that point; Tower advised us of our closure with Company ahead; that another Company would be departing before us; asked us to slow to final approach speed; and pointed out traffic out of [a nearby airport]. The FO directed me to set target [speed]. As I brought my attention back inside; I noticed we were low on glideslope and slightly fast. We made the 1000 feet call; I made deviation calls; unfortunately (because of outside distractions) we both missed configuring to flaps 30 and completing the Before Landing Checklist. At 500 feet; we received a 'Too Low Flaps' warning. I directed a go-around. We executed the go-around and came back around for an uneventful approach and landing.As Pilot Monitoring; I needed to spend more time inside the cockpit ensuring compliance of procedures. The Pilot Flying needed to concentrate more on the task at hand and not let outside factors distract his attention. Don't let outside distractions divert attention during critical phases of flight.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1305966
Time
Date	201510
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 214 Flight Crew Type 13000
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach

B737 flight crew executed a go-around after forgetting to set final flaps and complete the before landing checklist due to attention outside the cockpit on ATC reported traffic concerns.