B737 flight crew has unstabilized approach into pafa.

Attributes
ACN	590228
Time
Date	200308
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : oak.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	590228
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	590405
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On a visual approach to runway 1L at the fairbanks airport we became high on our approach profile due to strong tailwinds. The approach seemed normal until approximately 2000 ft and 5 mi out when we realized that the tailwind we had, was not diminishing. (Approximately 35 KTS) the runway wind was reported as calm. We configured to flaps 40 degrees and slowed to our final speed. This still didn't look like it would be quite enough correction, so we requested s-turns on final from the tower controller. This was approved. We made 2 turns left and 1 turn right but, didn't get fully stable until approximately 300 ft AGL. At one point the ground proximity warning did give us a sink rate and a pull up warning which we complied with. The touchdown was made smoothly in the touchdown zone and the rollout was normal (taxiway M). The aircraft was always under complete control, and I don't feel that safety was compromised in any way. The only problem I see is that we did not meet the standard for a stabilized approach. Going around and re-entering the pattern may have been a better option.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW HAS UNSTABILIZED APCH INTO PAFA.

Narrative: ON A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 1L AT THE FAIRBANKS ARPT WE BECAME HIGH ON OUR APCH PROFILE DUE TO STRONG TAILWINDS. THE APCH SEEMED NORMAL UNTIL APPROX 2000 FT AND 5 MI OUT WHEN WE REALIZED THAT THE TAILWIND WE HAD, WAS NOT DIMINISHING. (APPROX 35 KTS) THE RWY WIND WAS RPTED AS CALM. WE CONFIGURED TO FLAPS 40 DEGS AND SLOWED TO OUR FINAL SPD. THIS STILL DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT WOULD BE QUITE ENOUGH CORRECTION, SO WE REQUESTED S-TURNS ON FINAL FROM THE TWR CTLR. THIS WAS APPROVED. WE MADE 2 TURNS L AND 1 TURN R BUT, DIDN'T GET FULLY STABLE UNTIL APPROX 300 FT AGL. AT ONE POINT THE GND PROX WARNING DID GIVE US A SINK RATE AND A PULL UP WARNING WHICH WE COMPLIED WITH. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE SMOOTHLY IN THE TOUCHDOWN ZONE AND THE ROLLOUT WAS NORMAL (TXWY M). THE ACFT WAS ALWAYS UNDER COMPLETE CTL, AND I DON'T FEEL THAT SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED IN ANY WAY. THE ONLY PROB I SEE IS THAT WE DID NOT MEET THE STANDARD FOR A STABILIZED APCH. GOING AROUND AND RE-ENTERING THE PATTERN MAY HAVE BEEN A BETTER OPTION.

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.