Date: 201902
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: LGA.Airport, NY
Flight conditions: IMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Medium Large Transport
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class B LGA
ATC / advisory: TRACON N90
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: When we were handed to final Approach; we were still descending and at 250 knots on the Korry 4 Arrival. Approach gave us a heading to intercept the localizer well outside of GRENE at 3000' for ILS 4. The frequency was cluttered. As we approached GRENE and the glideslope came alive; the pilot flying pointed it out and I attempted to contact Approach before glideslope intercept. As the frequency was cluttered I was unable to make the request until the glideslope was almost full deflection at 3000'.Once we got the clearance we; attempted to slow down for configuration while trying to catch the glideslope. At approximately 1000' MSL; the pilot flying decided that we were unstable and executed the go around procedure. It is worth noting that the same controller almost did the same thing to us on the second attempt for the approach. It is worth noting that the same controller almost did not clear us in time for our second attempt.Being New York airspace; we are kept fast until the last moment; and when a controller loses track of where aircraft is in time and space; it places a disproportionate workload on the flight crew to try and ask for clearances in an environment that is a high workload for pilots as well as controllers.


Second narrative: Assigned altitude 2400' and speed 180 knots. ATC assigned a heading to intercept and instructed; 'Join localizer Runway 04.' Aircraft intercepted localizer and proceeded inbound at 2400' and 180 knots. Configured to flaps 30; gear up. ATC never cleared flight for the approach. Approaching glideslope intercept pilot flying verbalized; 'Approaching glideslope...passing glideslope.' ATC frequency was congested and pilot monitoring could not request approach clearance in time. Flew past glideslope intercept at 2400' and 180 knots. Frequency cleared and pilot monitoring asked for clearance to proceed on the approach. ATC cleared flight for ILS 04 LGA. Pilot flying initiated descent and attempt to recapture glideslope. Began descent from 2400' at 1.5 dot deflection high on the glideslope.While descending pilot flying tried to capture the glideslope which prevented slowing to reach flaps 45 airspeed. Arrived at 1000' AGL one half to a full dot high on glideslope; flaps 30; gear down; airspeed 170-180 knots. Pilot flying initiated go around. Go around uneventful. ATC vectored for a second approach attempt and second approach was completed safely.A breakdown in communication between ATC and flight crew led to the aircraft not being cleared for the approach in a timely manner and beginning the approach past glideslope intercept leading to a high; fast condition which led to an unstable approach and subsequent go around.Recommend ATC be as proactive as possible in clearing inbound aircraft for an approach. Recommend flight crews that are cleared to join a localizer while expecting an ILS approach; report establishment on the localizer to ATC if there is no timely follow on communication for ATC. This should prompt ATC clearance and facilitate an early/on time configuration and commencement of the instrument approach.


Synopsis: Air carrier flight crew reported receiving a late approach clearance from ATC forcing them to conduct a missed approach.