Narrative:

On our approach to oma from the southwest, we were cleared direct gerfi (OM for runway 14R ILS), and were told to expect a visual to runway 14R. About 15 mi out, we called the field in sight and were cleared for the visual to runway 14R and switched to tower. During the visual (captain was PF) visibility was unrestr. The captain entered gsi (2400 ft MSL) in the active window and was on profile for landing. As we approached the field, we noticed on the chart as well as visually that there was an obstruction (towers) at 2549 ft MSL near our path to the field. We passed the towers about 1/2 mi to the north and 2700 ft. While this was not a close call, it is a possible bad scenario, ie, hazy a little further south on the ground track. Supplemental information from acn 562120: as we passed approximately 1/2 mi north of the obstructions, I noted that, given the route in the FMC, we were only 10 mi from touchdown and were already indicating 200 ft high in 'vertical deviation.' my point here is that we were not at a prematurely low altitude. Although unfamiliar with terps requirements, I am sure that the distance from the obstructions meets all published criteria. Given that company 'technique' calls for selecting gsi altitude upon receiving a visual approach clearance, I can see a very real possibility of 'scaring' someone some day. Let me add that while the MSA of 4100 ft could certainly keep you out of trouble, adhering to it would not permit a visual approach from the southwest, intercepting the final at gerfi.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CFIT. A B737-300 FLC COMES WITHIN 150 FT VERTLY TO A SET OF TWRS LOCATED ONE HALF NM FROM THEIR TRACK 'DIRECT' TO GERFI NDB WHEN EXPECTING A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 14 AT OMA, NE.

Narrative: ON OUR APCH TO OMA FROM THE SW, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT GERFI (OM FOR RWY 14R ILS), AND WERE TOLD TO EXPECT A VISUAL TO RWY 14R. ABOUT 15 MI OUT, WE CALLED THE FIELD IN SIGHT AND WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 14R AND SWITCHED TO TWR. DURING THE VISUAL (CAPT WAS PF) VISIBILITY WAS UNRESTR. THE CAPT ENTERED GSI (2400 FT MSL) IN THE ACTIVE WINDOW AND WAS ON PROFILE FOR LNDG. AS WE APCHED THE FIELD, WE NOTICED ON THE CHART AS WELL AS VISUALLY THAT THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION (TWRS) AT 2549 FT MSL NEAR OUR PATH TO THE FIELD. WE PASSED THE TWRS ABOUT 1/2 MI TO THE N AND 2700 FT. WHILE THIS WAS NOT A CLOSE CALL, IT IS A POSSIBLE BAD SCENARIO, IE, HAZY A LITTLE FURTHER S ON THE GND TRACK. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 562120: AS WE PASSED APPROX 1/2 MI N OF THE OBSTRUCTIONS, I NOTED THAT, GIVEN THE RTE IN THE FMC, WE WERE ONLY 10 MI FROM TOUCHDOWN AND WERE ALREADY INDICATING 200 FT HIGH IN 'VERT DEV.' MY POINT HERE IS THAT WE WERE NOT AT A PREMATURELY LOW ALT. ALTHOUGH UNFAMILIAR WITH TERPS REQUIREMENTS, I AM SURE THAT THE DISTANCE FROM THE OBSTRUCTIONS MEETS ALL PUBLISHED CRITERIA. GIVEN THAT COMPANY 'TECHNIQUE' CALLS FOR SELECTING GSI ALT UPON RECEIVING A VISUAL APCH CLRNC, I CAN SEE A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY OF 'SCARING' SOMEONE SOME DAY. LET ME ADD THAT WHILE THE MSA OF 4100 FT COULD CERTAINLY KEEP YOU OUT OF TROUBLE, ADHERING TO IT WOULD NOT PERMIT A VISUAL APCH FROM THE SW, INTERCEPTING THE FINAL AT GERFI.

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.