B777 flight crew executes a go around due to traffic and visibility at sfo.

Attributes
ACN	698857
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer only : 28r
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	698857
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : executed go around
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were cleared for the ILS runway 28R approach to sfo. We were asked if we had traffic in sight on approach to runway 28L; we responded affirmatively. At approximately 1800 ft MSL near the FAF; the controller asked if we still had the traffic in sight for runway 28L. At about the same time that aircraft went behind or into clouds; we reported that the traffic was no longer in sight. We were instructed to maintain 2000 ft; so we climbed to 2000 ft. Seconds later; we were told to re-intercept the GS and were reclred for the approach. We advised that we were unable due to WX and positioning it would have created an unstable approach and were instructed to go around; climb to 5000 ft radar heading. At that time we advised norcal of minimum fuel. On the go around; we received low fuel warning on the left engine. Fuel was at 13.7. Vectored for lengthy downwind and landed uneventfully on runway 28R with fuel at 10.4. There appeared to be an unusual lack of communications between norcal sectors regarding headings and airspds during approach and changing WX conditions during the approach contributed to the go around and low fuel situation. In my opinion; because of the increasing low stratus; parallel approachs should have been discontinued sooner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777 FLT CREW EXECUTES A GAR DUE TO TFC AND VISIBILITY AT SFO.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR THE ILS RWY 28R APCH TO SFO. WE WERE ASKED IF WE HAD TFC IN SIGHT ON APCH TO RWY 28L; WE RESPONDED AFFIRMATIVELY. AT APPROX 1800 FT MSL NEAR THE FAF; THE CTLR ASKED IF WE STILL HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT FOR RWY 28L. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT ACFT WENT BEHIND OR INTO CLOUDS; WE RPTED THAT THE TFC WAS NO LONGER IN SIGHT. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT; SO WE CLBED TO 2000 FT. SECONDS LATER; WE WERE TOLD TO RE-INTERCEPT THE GS AND WERE RECLRED FOR THE APCH. WE ADVISED THAT WE WERE UNABLE DUE TO WX AND POSITIONING IT WOULD HAVE CREATED AN UNSTABLE APCH AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO GO AROUND; CLB TO 5000 FT RADAR HDG. AT THAT TIME WE ADVISED NORCAL OF MINIMUM FUEL. ON THE GAR; WE RECEIVED LOW FUEL WARNING ON THE L ENG. FUEL WAS AT 13.7. VECTORED FOR LENGTHY DOWNWIND AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY ON RWY 28R WITH FUEL AT 10.4. THERE APPEARED TO BE AN UNUSUAL LACK OF COMS BTWN NORCAL SECTORS REGARDING HDGS AND AIRSPDS DURING APCH AND CHANGING WX CONDITIONS DURING THE APCH CONTRIBUTED TO THE GAR AND LOW FUEL SITUATION. IN MY OPINION; BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING LOW STRATUS; PARALLEL APCHS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED SOONER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.