B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 166; Flight Crew Type 20000
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
We were flying the Stadium Visual to Runway 29 using the RNAV waypoints. At about 1000' Tower asked us to square the turn to final. I widened and squared the turn using both outside references and the map and course presentation on the flight deck display. However; not being familiar with EWR visually; I lost sight of the runway in the sea of lights and ended up right of the final approach path by maybe 1500' to 2000'.We received an Obstacle Caution; although did not see any obstacle. Since it was night conditions we executed the prescribed go-around which we needed as well; due to our poor alignment. I don't believe we committed any deviations; but with the Obstacle Caution wanted to spread the info for other's benefit. The request by Tower to square the turn would likely be no problem for a familiar local flyer that could more easily pick a good ground track.
I was Pilot Monitoring. We were cleared the STADIUM Visual Runway 29 at EWR. Proceeding aircraft was approximately 3 NM ahead; and as we made the 45 degree final segment to the runway; Tower requested we 'square the turn;' which meant deviating from the LNAV PATH. Not having that lateral guidance when we did turn final complicated an already very busy arrival. Numerous speed requests from Tower and inability to get details due to radio saturation. High winds (250/22 gust 31) also were a factor; and neither of us had flown this approach before.As we turned to final; I had the airfield in sight but not the Runway 29. We were slightly displaced right of centerline and could not safely correct to course. When we received a Terrain Caution (approximately 500') I called for a go-around. During the subsequent approach; the Pilot Flying flew the LNAV PATH all the way. That worked much better.A quick note about how difficult Runway 29 is to acquire visually; due to the late turn to final [would be helpful].
B737-700 flight crew reported executing a go-around after receiving a terrain alert at 500 feet AGL on a night Stadium Visual approach to EWR.