Air carrier X made go around when unable to use runway because of weight.

Attributes
ACN	282270
Time
Date	199409
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca tower : dca tower : fll
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	282270
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cleared by approach control for the mt vernon visual runway 36 approach and switch to tower. We were inside oxonn and in landing confign. Called tower. Dca tower said, 'air carrier X, cleared to land runway 33.' we stated, 'X unable to land runway 33.' tower, 'X, go around.' we executed a go around followed the river and climbed to 3000 ft. Contacted approach control and were again cleared for the mt vernon visual runway 36 approach and switched to tower. We called tower and were again inside oxonn. Tower: 'X, cleared to land runway 33.' we stated, 'X too heavy for runway 33.' tower, 'make a turn and fly east bank of river for spacing.' us: 'roger, X.' tower: 'X cleared to land runway 36.' us: 'X cleared to land runway 36.' if we could not land on 33 during the first approach, why would tower clear us to land on runway 33 during the second approach?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X MADE GAR WHEN UNABLE TO USE RWY BECAUSE OF WT.

Narrative: CLRED BY APCH CTL FOR THE MT VERNON VISUAL RWY 36 APCH AND SWITCH TO TWR. WE WERE INSIDE OXONN AND IN LNDG CONFIGN. CALLED TWR. DCA TWR SAID, 'ACR X, CLRED TO LAND RWY 33.' WE STATED, 'X UNABLE TO LAND RWY 33.' TWR, 'X, GAR.' WE EXECUTED A GAR FOLLOWED THE RIVER AND CLBED TO 3000 FT. CONTACTED APCH CTL AND WERE AGAIN CLRED FOR THE MT VERNON VISUAL RWY 36 APCH AND SWITCHED TO TWR. WE CALLED TWR AND WERE AGAIN INSIDE OXONN. TWR: 'X, CLRED TO LAND RWY 33.' WE STATED, 'X TOO HVY FOR RWY 33.' TWR, 'MAKE A TURN AND FLY E BANK OF RIVER FOR SPACING.' US: 'ROGER, X.' TWR: 'X CLRED TO LAND RWY 36.' US: 'X CLRED TO LAND RWY 36.' IF WE COULD NOT LAND ON 33 DURING THE FIRST APCH, WHY WOULD TWR CLR US TO LAND ON RWY 33 DURING THE SECOND APCH?

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.