Stl local controller put an aircraft into position with landing traffic on a 3 mi final that resulte...

Attributes
ACN	587426
Time
Date	200307
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl single value : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : stl.tower tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : stl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	587426
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3, 4, & 5
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : executed go around
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were cleared for a visual approach to runway 12R at stl. Approach had us at 160 KTS for sequencing when we were switched to tower. Tower advised us to continue, traffic ahead landing. On a 3 mi final tower cleared an S80 into position while landing traffic exited and 1 airplane crossed downfield. We were just outside a 1 mi final when tower cleared company for takeoff and advised us that he would have a landing clearance for us shortly. We were prepared for a go around as the picture did not look good. I elected to go around as the controller issued a go around and actually said that company made it interesting. I feel that the editorial comment by the controller was uncalled for as the S80 made an expeditious takeoff. The controller should never have attempted to get another airplane out with us on such a close in final. A potentially hazardous operation was averted but the situation was unnecessary given the good WX and light traffic overall. The go around was uneventful and just resulted in a 10 min delay to our flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STL LCL CTLR PUT AN ACFT INTO POS WITH LNDG TFC ON A 3 MI FINAL THAT RESULTED IN A GAR.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 12R AT STL. APCH HAD US AT 160 KTS FOR SEQUENCING WHEN WE WERE SWITCHED TO TWR. TWR ADVISED US TO CONTINUE, TFC AHEAD LNDG. ON A 3 MI FINAL TWR CLRED AN S80 INTO POS WHILE LNDG TFC EXITED AND 1 AIRPLANE CROSSED DOWNFIELD. WE WERE JUST OUTSIDE A 1 MI FINAL WHEN TWR CLRED COMPANY FOR TKOF AND ADVISED US THAT HE WOULD HAVE A LNDG CLRNC FOR US SHORTLY. WE WERE PREPARED FOR A GAR AS THE PICTURE DID NOT LOOK GOOD. I ELECTED TO GO AROUND AS THE CTLR ISSUED A GAR AND ACTUALLY SAID THAT COMPANY MADE IT INTERESTING. I FEEL THAT THE EDITORIAL COMMENT BY THE CTLR WAS UNCALLED FOR AS THE S80 MADE AN EXPEDITIOUS TKOF. THE CTLR SHOULD NEVER HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET ANOTHER AIRPLANE OUT WITH US ON SUCH A CLOSE IN FINAL. A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS OP WAS AVERTED BUT THE SIT WAS UNNECESSARY GIVEN THE GOOD WX AND LIGHT TFC OVERALL. THE GAR WAS UNEVENTFUL AND JUST RESULTED IN A 10 MIN DELAY TO OUR FLT.

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.

Stl local controller put an aircraft into position with landing traffic on a 3 mi final that resulted in a go around.