On the afternoon of 23 February, an Asiana Airlines A350 on approach to San Francisco (SFO | KSFO) sank below the glide slope for Runway 28L, setting off an alert with air traffic control in the SFO tower. The controller queried Asiana 212 to check their altitude and the pilots commenced a go around. The aircraft landed safely on its second approach.
“Check your altitude immediately”
@therealflightradar24 An Asiana Airlines A350 on approach to San Francisco was alerted to a low altitude approach by the tower controller at SFO. The flight was below the glideslope, reaching a minimum GPS altitude of 450 feet. The crew conducted a go around and landed safely on their second approach. #aviation #avgeek #A350 #sanfrancisco #SFO #goaround ♬ original sound – Flightradar24
Standard and deviation
The image below shows preceding and succeeding arrivals on SFO’s Runway 28L. Asiana 212 began its approach at a higher altitude than comparative arrivals and then dropped below the standard glide path. At the lowest altitude recorded on the first approach (250 ft AMSL uncorrected pressure altitude, 450 ft GPS altitude), the aircraft was 3.27 miles (5.26 km) from the runway threshold.
Weather information
The METAR at the time was as follows:
KSFO 232156Z 35006KT 10SM FEW028 SCT150 BKN200 16/12 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP248 T01560117 $
Downloadable data
Playback of the flight may be accessed here. You can also download the CSV and KML files for the flight below.
6 Responses
Could you compare the data with flight 214?
Yes, same airline and same issue with approach to SFO in 2013, this time with very different result, fortunately. I believe the issue in 2013 was related to pilot reliance on autopilot for landing, even though a notification had been sent out by FAA that the glideslope signal could not be relied upon due to equipment repair/modification.
Everybody thinks that they can be a pilot.
It is really starting to show that that is NOT the case.
If you can get the money, you will be given a license to fly.
Unfortunately, many, many more people are going to die at the hands of WANNABE pilots!!!
Having been to China and had flights on Air China planes, I now entirely avoid aircraft flown by Asians (except JAL). Being a pilot myself, I have a good idea of how aircraft should be handled; the flights on Air China were actually very frightening to me. The “pilots” operating the flights I was on were sadly lacking in knowledge of proper aircraft operation. I’ll gladly pay more to fly on aircraft operated by pilots who seemingly didn’t get their ATPLs by sending in 16 box tops, or something!
Is that you Donald?
JAL DC8-62 1968
Asiana B777 2013
Asiana A350 2025
Same tent, different clowns.