A320, vicinity Pointe-à-Pitre Guadeloupe French Antilles, 2022
A320, vicinity Pointe-à-Pitre Guadeloupe French Antilles, 2022
Summary
On 11 February 2022 an Airbus A320 making a visual approach to Guadeloupe at night was advised by ATC of a descent below the minimum safe altitude. This advisory came as the crew continued the approach after visual reference was temporarily lost. A repeat of this warning by ATC prompted crew recognition that the aircraft was low and off the required approach track. A go-around was initiated from 460 feet agl. The decision to attempt a visual approach in unsuitable circumstances and a delay in recognising the need for a go-around were found to have been symptomatic of poor tactical decision-making.
Description
On 11 February 2022 an Airbus A320 (F-HEPB) operated by Air France on a scheduled passenger flight from Martinique to Guadeloupe as AFR605 was on a hand-flown visual night approach at destination. The crew lost visual reference, but continued the approach until a repeated ATC call prompted recognition that the aircraft was off the required vertical profile.