MD80 flight crew extends downwind due to traffic at lga.

Attributes
ACN	442470
Time
Date	199907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : charted visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : charted visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	442470
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure Airport ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

At 3000 ft MSL, 250 KIAS, approaching prospect park, we were cleared for the expressway visual runway 31 and slowed to 210 KIAS. While descending to 2500 ft MSL, slowed further to 180 KIAS. At idle power and configuring flaps to slow to 180 KIAS, started turn over the tanks to 085 degrees. Traffic called by approach controller just prior to tanks was a dash 8 from the north instructed to turn inside the expressway. We acknowledged with 'no contact.' saw traffic as we passed about 065 degrees. We were told to fly straight ahead at that point as we were quite close to the dash 8. Remained on that heading for only a short time (seconds) then continued the visual to runway 31 and, as instructed, squared our base to final gaining additional separation. Landed without incident. Appears to be a case of too many variables in too little airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLC EXTENDS DOWNWIND DUE TO TFC AT LGA.

Narrative: AT 3000 FT MSL, 250 KIAS, APCHING PROSPECT PARK, WE WERE CLRED FOR THE EXPRESSWAY VISUAL RWY 31 AND SLOWED TO 210 KIAS. WHILE DSNDING TO 2500 FT MSL, SLOWED FURTHER TO 180 KIAS. AT IDLE PWR AND CONFIGURING FLAPS TO SLOW TO 180 KIAS, STARTED TURN OVER THE TANKS TO 085 DEGS. TFC CALLED BY APCH CTLR JUST PRIOR TO TANKS WAS A DASH 8 FROM THE N INSTRUCTED TO TURN INSIDE THE EXPRESSWAY. WE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH 'NO CONTACT.' SAW TFC AS WE PASSED ABOUT 065 DEGS. WE WERE TOLD TO FLY STRAIGHT AHEAD AT THAT POINT AS WE WERE QUITE CLOSE TO THE DASH 8. REMAINED ON THAT HDG FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME (SECONDS) THEN CONTINUED THE VISUAL TO RWY 31 AND, AS INSTRUCTED, SQUARED OUR BASE TO FINAL GAINING ADDITIONAL SEPARATION. LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. APPEARS TO BE A CASE OF TOO MANY VARIABLES IN TOO LITTLE AIRSPACE.

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.