MD80 flight crew accepts visual approach clearance to follow a B747. MD80 flight crew loses visual contact with B747 while descending through a fog layer, regains visual contact with the B747 and lands.

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Attributes
ACN	439090
Time
Date	199906
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	439090
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	439852
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight sea to sfo, high on downwind, while being vectored for a visual approach to runway 28R at sfo. Turned on base leg at approximately 6000 ft (14 mi from sfo), asked by approach control to report a B747 12 O'clock at 3000 ft. We reported the B747 in sight and approach then cleared us for a visual approach to runway 28R (the B747 was for runway 28L, we did not have the airport in sight). I thought we would be able to descend below a cloud layer in front of us before losing sight of the B747. Due to the lower cloud layer and high on profile, I lost sight of the B747 from 2000 ft MSL to 1800 ft MSL. While descending out of 1800 ft MSL, I was able to see the airport and continued the visual approach to runway 28R.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLC ACCEPTS VISUAL APCH CLRNC TO FOLLOW A B747. MD80 FLC LOSES VISUAL CONTACT WITH B747 WHILE DSNDING THROUGH A FOG LAYER, REGAINS VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE B747 AND LANDS.

Narrative: FLT SEA TO SFO, HIGH ON DOWNWIND, WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 28R AT SFO. TURNED ON BASE LEG AT APPROX 6000 FT (14 MI FROM SFO), ASKED BY APCH CTL TO RPT A B747 12 O'CLOCK AT 3000 FT. WE RPTED THE B747 IN SIGHT AND APCH THEN CLRED US FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 28R (THE B747 WAS FOR RWY 28L, WE DID NOT HAVE THE ARPT IN SIGHT). I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DSND BELOW A CLOUD LAYER IN FRONT OF US BEFORE LOSING SIGHT OF THE B747. DUE TO THE LOWER CLOUD LAYER AND HIGH ON PROFILE, I LOST SIGHT OF THE B747 FROM 2000 FT MSL TO 1800 FT MSL. WHILE DSNDING OUT OF 1800 FT MSL, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE ARPT AND CONTINUED THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 28R.

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.