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ASRS 2011432

ACN 2011432 · 2023-06 · Commercial Fixed Wing

An Air Carrier pilot reported GEG TRACON vectored them to base leg for a Visual Approach to MSO at a position and altitude that prevented them from flying a stabilized approach. Reporter states this is a recurring issue at this airport.

RNAV Arrival Reports Final ApproachPart 121

Pilot narrative

Verbatim, de-identified by NASA. Placeholders: ZZZ, X, Y.

We were vectored off of the descent and told to expect a visual approach to Runway 30 into MSO behind an Air Carrier Y flight. Rather than clear us for the RNAV visual or the RNP approach, Spokane Approach wanted to give us vectors. He vectored us to a base leg that was 7.5 miles from the end of the runway in significant terrain, left us at 8800 ft. (5,600 ft. AGL) and cleared us for the visual. I slowed and configured the plane as fast as I could but could not descend fast enough to achieve a stabilized approach by 1,000 feet so I initiated a go-around. These unsafe vectors have happened to me several times in the past going into MSO. Approach puts pilots in precarious positions and then clears them for the visual approach expecting the pilots to fix the situation that Approach created.

NASA classification · Anomalies

  • ATC Issue
  • Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural
  • Inflight Event / Encounter

NASA classification · Assessments

Contributing Factors / Situations
Human Factors · Procedure
Primary Problem
Procedure

ASRS reports are voluntary, de-identified by NASA, and represent the reporter's perspective; they are not investigated and cannot be used to infer prevalence. Authoritative source: asrs.arc.nasa.gov ↗