Narrative:

On approach to sfo runway 28R we were told to slow to 180 KTS then 160 KTS. We were cleared for the ILS runway 28R approach. When we switched frequency to sfo tower we were told to slow to final approach speed which was 145 KTS. The preceding B767 aircraft had slowed to 120 KTS. The tower told us that 'this isn't going to work, go around, fly the published missed.' we leveled off at 1650 ft and proceeded to fly to the published missed approach point, level at 1650 ft MSL. The published missed approach altitude is 3000 ft and the procedure starts at approximately the middle marker. I understand the aim to state that we should fly to the missed approach point at or above MDA or decision ht and then start the missed approach procedure. By leveling at 1650 ft we were at or above decision ht or MDA. Sfo tower thought we would start to climb immediately but did not request us to do so. Because we were not instructed to climb and we leveled at 1650 ft MSL, we lost traffic separation with the preceding aircraft. Tower wanted us to climb and asked if we were going to. When we told him that we were leveling off to the missed approach, he told us to climb and maintain 3000 ft. We later learned that we lost separation with the preceding aircraft. To prevent this from happening again I suggest that the tower controller tell us what they really want us to do. If we are cleared to climb prior to reaching the missed approach, it should be stated in the aim.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC WAS EXPECTING THE FLC OF AN MLG TO START CLBING AT ONCE WHEN INSTRUCTED TO MAKE A MISSED APCH.

Narrative: ON APCH TO SFO RWY 28R WE WERE TOLD TO SLOW TO 180 KTS THEN 160 KTS. WE WERE CLRED FOR THE ILS RWY 28R APCH. WHEN WE SWITCHED FREQ TO SFO TWR WE WERE TOLD TO SLOW TO FINAL APCH SPD WHICH WAS 145 KTS. THE PRECEDING B767 ACFT HAD SLOWED TO 120 KTS. THE TWR TOLD US THAT 'THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK, GAR, FLY THE PUBLISHED MISSED.' WE LEVELED OFF AT 1650 FT AND PROCEEDED TO FLY TO THE PUBLISHED MISSED APCH POINT, LEVEL AT 1650 FT MSL. THE PUBLISHED MISSED APCH ALT IS 3000 FT AND THE PROC STARTS AT APPROX THE MIDDLE MARKER. I UNDERSTAND THE AIM TO STATE THAT WE SHOULD FLY TO THE MISSED APCH POINT AT OR ABOVE MDA OR DECISION HT AND THEN START THE MISSED APCH PROC. BY LEVELING AT 1650 FT WE WERE AT OR ABOVE DECISION HT OR MDA. SFO TWR THOUGHT WE WOULD START TO CLB IMMEDIATELY BUT DID NOT REQUEST US TO DO SO. BECAUSE WE WERE NOT INSTRUCTED TO CLB AND WE LEVELED AT 1650 FT MSL, WE LOST TFC SEPARATION WITH THE PRECEDING ACFT. TWR WANTED US TO CLB AND ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO. WHEN WE TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE LEVELING OFF TO THE MISSED APCH, HE TOLD US TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT. WE LATER LEARNED THAT WE LOST SEPARATION WITH THE PRECEDING ACFT. TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN I SUGGEST THAT THE TWR CTLR TELL US WHAT THEY REALLY WANT US TO DO. IF WE ARE CLRED TO CLB PRIOR TO REACHING THE MISSED APCH, IT SHOULD BE STATED IN THE AIM.

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.