EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 6600
Workload; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
Runway 29 approach at night; cleared to shoot the RNAV 29 approach maintain 12;000 feet until passing CESBA Intersection. On the approach it is at or above 9;900 feet. With gear and speed brakes; we were unable to get low enough to shoot the approach. Thought I was on visual approach and executed a 360 left turn to get down. Landed normally. Was only cleared for instrument approach RNAV 29 to GJT.We were kept too high at CESBA intersection by ATC. Thought we were cleared for visual approach.In VFR conditions; make sure cleared for visual approach prior to CESBA Intersection or restrict it all together if not able to be cleared to 9;900 feet prior to CESBA Intersection. Descent is too steep from 12;000 feet at CESBA Intersection.
EMB-175 Captain reported being too high on approach that required a 360 degree turn and caused a deviation from clearance.