ATC using visual approach with conditions below minimums.

Attributes
ACN	114456
Time
Date	198906
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	114456
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Lax WX: ATIS 700, partial obscuration, 4 miles smoke and haze. We were cleared for a visual approach to 25R to follow a widebody transport on approach to 25L. ILS has up (109.9) on 25L. Our position: 5 miles south of localizer 25L, 7000' and 15 miles from lax airport. We did not have the runway in sight and had not requested a visual approach. We were asked if we had the widebody transport in sight. We replied 'yes' and were cleared to follow the widebody transport and make a visual approach to 25R. We flew a 'side step' approach using the 25L ILS and staying approximately 2 dots to the right. We continued the approach to 1000 and still did not have the field in sight. We requested and landed 25L. We were told the WX was now 500 overcast, 1 mile visibility in fob, haze and smoke. 'Side step' visual apches are given more and more at lax with little consideration given to the WX conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC USING VISUAL APCH WITH CONDITIONS BELOW MINIMUMS.

Narrative: LAX WX: ATIS 700, PARTIAL OBSCURATION, 4 MILES SMOKE AND HAZE. WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO 25R TO FOLLOW A WDB ON APCH TO 25L. ILS HAS UP (109.9) ON 25L. OUR POSITION: 5 MILES SOUTH OF LOC 25L, 7000' AND 15 MILES FROM LAX ARPT. WE DID NOT HAVE THE RWY IN SIGHT AND HAD NOT REQUESTED A VISUAL APCH. WE WERE ASKED IF WE HAD THE WDB IN SIGHT. WE REPLIED 'YES' AND WERE CLRED TO FOLLOW THE WDB AND MAKE A VISUAL APCH TO 25R. WE FLEW A 'SIDE STEP' APCH USING THE 25L ILS AND STAYING APPROX 2 DOTS TO THE RIGHT. WE CONTINUED THE APCH TO 1000 AND STILL DID NOT HAVE THE FIELD IN SIGHT. WE REQUESTED AND LANDED 25L. WE WERE TOLD THE WX WAS NOW 500 OVERCAST, 1 MILE VISIBILITY IN FOB, HAZE AND SMOKE. 'SIDE STEP' VISUAL APCHES ARE GIVEN MORE AND MORE AT LAX WITH LITTLE CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THE WX CONDITIONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.