<< >> NASA ASRS Report 271197, May 1994

Aircraft X controlled flight toward terrain issued low altitude altitude by controller returned aircraft to proper altitude. Visual approach in use.

Attributes
ACN	271197
Time
Date	199405
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4300 msl bound upper : 4300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 17500 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	271197
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Aircraft X cleared a 'visual approach' to las runway 25L. I misread the altitude at 15 NM as being 4300 ft MSL versus 4800 ft. Approach control (las) called and said they had a low altitude alert on our aircraft. We immediately climbed to 4800 ft and continued the approach and landing. Las vegas has 'very' clear visibility 20-50 mi, a long narrow runway (25 left) and can be very deceptive. As to relative position of runway, aircraft and relative position. (The appearance of being high on approach, when in reality you are low.) I believe that a 'highly visible' VASI on all runways at las is imperative.

Related reports:

• GA small aircraft controlled flight toward terrain.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT X CONTROLLED FLT TOWARD TERRAIN ISSUED LOW ALT ALT BY CTLR RETURNED ACFT TO PROPER ALT. VISUAL APCH IN USE.

Narrative: ACFT X CLRED A 'VISUAL APCH' TO LAS RWY 25L. I MISREAD THE ALT AT 15 NM AS BEING 4300 FT MSL VERSUS 4800 FT. APCH CTL (LAS) CALLED AND SAID THEY HAD A LOW ALT ALERT ON OUR ACFT. WE IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 4800 FT AND CONTINUED THE APCH AND LNDG. LAS VEGAS HAS 'VERY' CLR VISIBILITY 20-50 MI, A LONG NARROW RWY (25 L) AND CAN BE VERY DECEPTIVE. AS TO RELATIVE POS OF RWY, ACFT AND RELATIVE POS. (THE APPEARANCE OF BEING HIGH ON APCH, WHEN IN REALITY YOU ARE LOW.) I BELIEVE THAT A 'HIGHLY VISIBLE' VASI ON ALL RWYS AT LAS IS IMPERATIVE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.