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Air carrier crew confronted worse weather conditions during approach than forecast. The distraction with managing the approach to marginal weather at the airport resulted in an altitude deviation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1352867 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201605 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 85 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 178 Flight Crew Type 16000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
Approximately 20 miles out from landing; ATC cleared us to cross a fix at 2;700 feet; and cleared us for the approach. About the same time approach said a new ATIS was current. They did not say the new ATIS was. We checked it quickly and realized the visibility had gone right to CAT 1 minimums for our CAT 1 aircraft.I was the pilot flying in the left seat; first leg IOE. The check airman realized; after accepting the clearance; we could not make it. Due to ATC congestion; we could not get relief and did the best we could without making unnecessary power and configuration changes which would have likely destabilized the approach.I was unaware; due to being very busy with the ATIS change; and my newness; that the ATC chatter; etc.; that there was a hard altitude at the fix. Crossing the fix about 800 feet high; the controller said 'I needed you at 2;700 feet.' I realized the error and told the check airman 'the fix is behind us so focus on the approach and we will talk about it on the ground.' we had a CAT 1 approach to fly; so we continued; landed and taxied to the gate. I discussed with the check airman what happened and decided to as soon as possible it.ATC should have been clearer. The dropping visibility was not forecasted; and when the ATC cut the new ATIS; with a drastic decrease in visibility; they should say it. Having to go to the FMC for the ATIS this late was unnecessary; they [should] read it on the frequency. [ATC needs] better spacing on the approach with less instructions clogging up the approach frequency.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Air carrier crew confronted worse weather conditions during approach than forecast. The distraction with managing the approach to marginal weather at the airport resulted in an altitude deviation.
Narrative: Approximately 20 miles out from landing; ATC cleared us to cross a fix at 2;700 feet; and cleared us for the approach. About the same time Approach said a new ATIS was current. They did not say the new ATIS was. We checked it quickly and realized the visibility had gone right to CAT 1 minimums for our CAT 1 aircraft.I was the pilot flying in the left seat; first leg IOE. The Check Airman realized; after accepting the clearance; we could not make it. Due to ATC congestion; we could not get relief and did the best we could without making unnecessary power and configuration changes which would have likely destabilized the approach.I was unaware; due to being very busy with the ATIS change; and my newness; that the ATC chatter; etc.; that there was a hard altitude at the fix. Crossing the fix about 800 feet high; the Controller said 'I needed you at 2;700 feet.' I realized the error and told the Check Airman 'the fix is behind us so focus on the approach and we will talk about it on the ground.' We had a CAT 1 approach to fly; so we continued; landed and taxied to the gate. I discussed with the Check Airman what happened and decided to ASAP it.ATC should have been clearer. The dropping visibility was not forecasted; and when the ATC cut the new ATIS; with a drastic decrease in visibility; they should say it. Having to go to the FMC for the ATIS this late was unnecessary; they [should] read it on the frequency. [ATC needs] better spacing on the approach with less instructions clogging up the Approach frequency.
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.