Falcon 50
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 18; Flight Crew Total 10132; Flight Crew Type 800
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
I was executing the RNAV (GPS) Y Runway 34R to RNO on the autopilot. I was transitioning from VIKES. Prior to intercepting final; I was vectored through final for spacing on a heading of 260+/- degrees. ATC gave a right turn vector of 020+/- degrees to intercept the final approach course of 344 degrees. I can not recall the last assigned altitude. After allowing the autopilot to complete the first 80 degrees+/- of the turn; I disconnected it and steepened the turn. I was concerned that we would not be on course until inside of SUTEE making our approach steep and unstable. We intercepted the course just outside of SUTEE in and out of the bottoms of the clouds. As the FMS sequenced from SUTEE to Runway 34 I continued descent. We were now VMC. ATC said to check altitude as they were getting an altitude warning. I do not recall our altitude but advised them we were VMC and clear of terrain. They asked if we wanted a VFR approach and I accepted the visual approach to Runway 34R. Our GPWS gave a terrain warning from the ridge line crossing 1.5 miles after SUTEE. I can only surmise that it was because of my rate of descent with terrain rising in front of me. I maintained visual separation from the terrain and continued to landing. I should have not accepted the right turn to final inside of ROYDO (IF) since this hurried the approach. Disconnecting the autopilot narrowed my focus in mountainous terrain. Asking for a resequence would have immediately slowed events down and ensured a stable IFR approach as originally planned.
A Falcon 50 Captain reported an unstabilized approach and descent below depicted altitudes during the RNAV Y Runway 34R at RNO. Vectors through the final approach course for spacing by ATC had resulted in intercepting just outside SUTEE. The autopilot was disengaged to hasten the turn.