B737 given sidestep landing after closing on traffic ahead in N90 airspace.

Attributes
ACN	422267
Time
Date	199812
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1250 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 205 flight time total : 11900 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	422267
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were flying into ewr, and the new york approach controller cleared us for the runway 4R ILS. We were told to maintain 2000 ft until established and at least 170 KTS until the OM. At about the OM we were told to contact the tower. When we checked in, tower told us to slow to minimum approach speed because we were 60 KTS faster than traffic ahead and only 2 1/2 mi behind. We slowed as fast as possible. As we were descending through 1250 ft MSL, the tower controller told us we were 2 mi behind traffic and to maintain 1600 ft. (We were already 350 ft below that.) we leveled off quickly and started a slight climb. While this was going on, he asked if we had the traffic in sight. We didn't. He said he had both of us in sight. He asked if we had the airport. We did, and he cleared us to sidestep to runway 4L and land.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 GIVEN SIDESTEP LNDG AFTER CLOSING ON TFC AHEAD IN N90 AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING INTO EWR, AND THE NEW YORK APCH CTLR CLRED US FOR THE RWY 4R ILS. WE WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED AND AT LEAST 170 KTS UNTIL THE OM. AT ABOUT THE OM WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT THE TWR. WHEN WE CHKED IN, TWR TOLD US TO SLOW TO MINIMUM APCH SPD BECAUSE WE WERE 60 KTS FASTER THAN TFC AHEAD AND ONLY 2 1/2 MI BEHIND. WE SLOWED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. AS WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH 1250 FT MSL, THE TWR CTLR TOLD US WE WERE 2 MI BEHIND TFC AND TO MAINTAIN 1600 FT. (WE WERE ALREADY 350 FT BELOW THAT.) WE LEVELED OFF QUICKLY AND STARTED A SLIGHT CLB. WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON, HE ASKED IF WE HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. WE DIDN'T. HE SAID HE HAD BOTH OF US IN SIGHT. HE ASKED IF WE HAD THE ARPT. WE DID, AND HE CLRED US TO SIDESTEP TO RWY 4L AND LAND.

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.