Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 98; Flight Crew Type 6000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Procedure
We were held high and vectored north by ATC to gain separation to preceding aircraft. Cleared direct FERGI at 6.0 and told to slow prior to continuing descent; cleared RNAV Approach. Very high at FERGI; set 2600 ft in altitude and continued descent to try to regain VNAV. Still high passing DARIC; set 1700 ft for GREYZ; intercepted VNAV prior to GREYZ and tried to select VNAV without it engaging. Then recruised the box and reselected VNAV.I called LNAV/VNAV PATH and selected zero for altitude. We were VMC with scattered rain showers. The glidepath at SETOC appeared correct; but by FONVI the PM (Pilot Monitoring) said we appeared low. He was looking out the right side at the building along the river. That caused me to look outside and then try to crosscheck the deviation pointers. I deselected the autopilot and started to level the aircraft. I heard the terrain alert and I heard 'Obstacle'; while hand flying the approach. We continued the approach and landed. At the gate; I asked what alert the PM heard. I heard 'Obstacle'; but did not hear 'Caution' or 'Pull Up'. He stated that he thought he heard 'Caution; Caution; Terrain' followed immediately by 'Obstacle Pull Up'. We discussed the difference between them. I believe that we should have followed procedures for any PULL UP and gone around.
A Heavy Transport Flight Crew were initially very high on an RNAV Approach. They aggressively caught up and then flew through the profile. The Captain then heard a terrain alert and then 'Obstacle'. He continued the approach and landed. The co-pilot had heard 'Obstacle; Pull UP'. The Captain concluded that he should have gone around.