Close proximity of ground obstacle to final approach path.

Attributes
ACN	290121
Time
Date	199412
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rsw
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 560
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	290121
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

If you will look at the commercial approach plate for the VOR DME approach to runway 24 at rsw, you will notice a tower approximately 360 ft tall. I nearly hit this tower. Upon crossing the VOR in IMC I began my descent rapidly to the first altitude leveloff. (I do not have the approach plate in front of me, but I believe the stepdown altitude is around 560 ft. As I descended I broke out of the overcast around 800 ft and saw the runway. I was still between the VOR and the tower. Because I had the runway visually I continued on a very slow descent. I had no idea there was a tower in front of me. Before I could respond, I saw the red light of the tower go under the nose of the airplane. I landed the airplane and once at the gate, I reread the approach plate. This approach needs a visual descent point. It's only a matter of time before someone hits this tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX OF GND OBSTACLE TO FINAL APCH PATH.

Narrative: IF YOU WILL LOOK AT THE COMMERCIAL APCH PLATE FOR THE VOR DME APCH TO RWY 24 AT RSW, YOU WILL NOTICE A TWR APPROX 360 FT TALL. I NEARLY HIT THIS TWR. UPON XING THE VOR IN IMC I BEGAN MY DSCNT RAPIDLY TO THE FIRST ALT LEVELOFF. (I DO NOT HAVE THE APCH PLATE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I BELIEVE THE STEPDOWN ALT IS AROUND 560 FT. AS I DSNDED I BROKE OUT OF THE OVCST AROUND 800 FT AND SAW THE RWY. I WAS STILL BTWN THE VOR AND THE TWR. BECAUSE I HAD THE RWY VISUALLY I CONTINUED ON A VERY SLOW DSCNT. I HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A TWR IN FRONT OF ME. BEFORE I COULD RESPOND, I SAW THE RED LIGHT OF THE TWR GO UNDER THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE. I LANDED THE AIRPLANE AND ONCE AT THE GATE, I REREAD THE APCH PLATE. THIS APCH NEEDS A VISUAL DSCNT POINT. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE HITS THIS TWR.

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.