A320 flight crew has unstabilized approach to msp.

Attributes
ACN	600334
Time
Date	200311
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : msp.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 22r
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	600334
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I crossed the OM high. In descending and trying to capture the GS, we triggered some kind of instrument in the control tower and they issued us a low altitude alert. They asked us if we were able to continue the approach. After we said yes, they commented that they were just not used to seeing aircraft descending that rapidly. At no time did we descend below the GS. During my debrief with the first officer, he stated that at one point inside the OM, we had as much as 4000 vsi. I felt we were stable prior to 1000 ft. He stated we were stable at 920 ft. All this was as a result of me not slowing and descending soon enough. I have heard and read of this problem with the A319 and A320. Now, I've been there, done that.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLT CREW HAS UNSTABILIZED APCH TO MSP.

Narrative: I CROSSED THE OM HIGH. IN DSNDING AND TRYING TO CAPTURE THE GS, WE TRIGGERED SOME KIND OF INST IN THE CTL TWR AND THEY ISSUED US A LOW ALT ALERT. THEY ASKED US IF WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE APCH. AFTER WE SAID YES, THEY COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE JUST NOT USED TO SEEING ACFT DSNDING THAT RAPIDLY. AT NO TIME DID WE DSND BELOW THE GS. DURING MY DEBRIEF WITH THE FO, HE STATED THAT AT ONE POINT INSIDE THE OM, WE HAD AS MUCH AS 4000 VSI. I FELT WE WERE STABLE PRIOR TO 1000 FT. HE STATED WE WERE STABLE AT 920 FT. ALL THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF ME NOT SLOWING AND DSNDING SOON ENOUGH. I HAVE HEARD AND READ OF THIS PROB WITH THE A319 AND A320. NOW, I'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

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.