Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 213; Flight Crew Type 11000
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather
VOR approach Runway 8 Pensacola. At minimum call; FO called runway in sight. Looking for the runway; FO said slightly to your right; still not picking up the runway entered a small cloud and at the same time got Obstacle Obstacle. At this time executed the recovery maneuver and went missed. Not sure what happened; may have descended a little too fast. With weather marginal and non-precision approach; newer model aircraft would be safer.
We were flying the VOR Runway 8 approach into PNS. We had already been handed off to Tower and cleared to land. We crossed the SAUFLEY (NUN) VOR on speed and fully configured. My Captain was the Pilot Flying with the autopilot engaged. Upon crossing the VOR; he started his descent to our Derived Decision Altitude (DDA) of 850 feet. As I called minimums we 'broke out;' and I could see the airport. As we went visual at minimums my Captain asked; 'Do you see the airport'? I replied 'Yes.' He asked. 'Where is it'? As I tried to point it out; we returned to IMC and I lost visual with the runway. We are now approximately 700 feet MSL.As I started to call for the go-around; we received a GPWS Obstacle Warning. My Captain initiated the escape maneuver and climbed out straight ahead. Once clear of the warning; we declared our missed approach to Tower and diverted. The flight landed with no other abnormalities noted. I should have called for the go-around as soon as my Captain asked 'Do you see the runway.'
B737 flight crew experiences a GPWS obstacle warning during the VOR Runway 8 approach after descending below MDA prior to having the runway clearly in sight. A go-around is initiated and the crew diverts to their alternate.