Asiana 214 Pilot Found Visual Approach 'Very Stressful'

Asiana 214 Pilot Found Visual Approach ‘Very Stressful’

Stephen Pope

Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 10:36 PM ET

Verified

** Courtesy of NTSB**

Key Takeaways:

The Asiana 214 training captain expressed significant anxiety and confusion regarding the visual approach and the operation of the Boeing 777's automation controls, particularly the autothrottles, which were found to be at idle.
This confusion contributed to the aircraft's speed dropping dangerously low (34 knots too slow) during the approach, which was conducted without ILS glideslope, leading to its crash into a seawall short of the runway.
The pilot stated he found performing a visual approach with a heavy airplane "very difficult" and was "very concerned" about his ability to do so.
Despite being considered experienced, a previous instructor had raised concerns about the pilot's organization, preparedness, inadequate briefings, and deviations from standard operating procedures.

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The Asiana Airlines training captain who crashed a Boeing 777 at San Francisco International Airport in July was anxious about the visual approach, which he described as “very stressful,” according to investigators.

Capt. Lee Kang Kuk, an eight-year employee of Asiana on his first extended trip flying the 777, also told investigators he was confused about the operation of the airplane’s automation controls, according to a report released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday as the board held a hearing into the crash.