B737 crew did s-turns without coordination with ATC controllers.

Attributes
ACN	426000
Time
Date	199901
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	426000
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to dca via mt vernon visual to runway 36. At time we picked up river and accepted visual approach we were a little high. We made an s-turn on final to get on profile, but failed to tell tower because of frequency congestion. He cautioned us there was traffic for runway 3 as we were turning back toward final. We were back in normal profile and normal landing was made. I could have done a better job of anticipating the quick approach, or should have made sure tower knew of my s-turn, so he knew my intentions and did not worry of a conflict with his traffic for runway 3.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW DID S-TURNS WITHOUT COORD WITH ATC CTLRS.

Narrative: CLRED TO DCA VIA MT VERNON VISUAL TO RWY 36. AT TIME WE PICKED UP RIVER AND ACCEPTED VISUAL APCH WE WERE A LITTLE HIGH. WE MADE AN S-TURN ON FINAL TO GET ON PROFILE, BUT FAILED TO TELL TWR BECAUSE OF FREQ CONGESTION. HE CAUTIONED US THERE WAS TFC FOR RWY 3 AS WE WERE TURNING BACK TOWARD FINAL. WE WERE BACK IN NORMAL PROFILE AND NORMAL LNDG WAS MADE. I COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB OF ANTICIPATING THE QUICK APCH, OR SHOULD HAVE MADE SURE TWR KNEW OF MY S-TURN, SO HE KNEW MY INTENTIONS AND DID NOT WORRY OF A CONFLICT WITH HIS TFC FOR RWY 3.

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.