Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 4000; Flight Crew Type 25
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
The approach to runway 34 at SLE has terrain and obstacles in the final approach path. Some terrain/obstacles extend nearly into a 3-degree glidepath within 1 mile of the runway. During a flight with a pilot who was not experienced with this approach; this pilot did not clearly perceive the terrain/obstacles that encroached on a typical 3 degree glidepath. When this pilot attempted to visually fly a typical 3 degree glidepath to runway 34; this resulted in flying in close proximity to the terrain/obstacles; including alerts from the aircraft's terrain alerting system.During the debrief of this event with the pilot; we reviewed the chart supplement publication for the airport. The supplement includes the following information: 'Runway 34: REIL. PAPI(P4L)--GA 4.0?? TCH 42??. Tree.' This is in the section for Runway 16-34.'LGT Runway 34 PAPI OTS indef.' This is in the SERVICE section.'Rising terrain and trees west and south of airport; including extended centerline of Runway 34.' This statement is in the remarks section.It seems unusual that Runway 34 would be advertised to have a PAPI with a 4 degree glidepath; only to have this indicated as indefinitely out of service in a separate section.Given the nature of the terrain/obstacles in the approach path; having an operational PAPI (with the higher 4 degree glidepath) would have been helpful during this this approach. It's not clear why the PAPI is out of service indefinitely and why it is confusingly documented in the chart supplement. Although this approach occurred during daylight conditions; the PAPI would be even more valuable during night approaches to this runway. The terrain/obstacles in the approach path may be less visible at night.
A flight instructor reported that the approach to a runway has terrain and obstacles in the final approach path.