Narrative:

On my approach to 1R on jun/fri/89 the area WX included scattered thunderstorms, haze, high ceiling but low scud clouds. While on close-in approach, approach control offered us a visual to 1R instead of the ILS. Here's where the decision I made turned out not to be the best idea. We were close-in, the last leg of a long 5-LEG day, the copilot was flying so I could devote more of my attention outside the cockpit so I accepted the visual approach while still having a gut feeling that it was not a good idea. As we approached the marker, approach control asked if we had the runway. I said 'no' because at that point the scud clouds prevented me from seeing 1R although I had had it in sight moments before. The controller said, 'turn right to 90 degree, climb to 2000'.' at that point I saw the runway again and said, 'I have the runway!' there was no response from the controller and I think I heard him in the midst of an instruction to the aircraft behind us, we continued in, expecting to be cleared for the 'visual'. Seconds later the controller got back to us and said 'air carrier are you turning to 90 degree?' at that point we discontinued the approach, (with the runway in full view and in good position to land) and followed the previous instructions. The subsequent approach and landing was uneventful. I let myself be talked into what I felt was a questionable visual approach. I knew better and next time I'll stick with my own evaluation of what is an appropriate and safe operation from the aircraft perspective.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER FLT ISSUED MISSED APCH CLRNC AFTER LOSING SIGHT OF ARPT DURING VECTORING FOR VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: ON MY APCH TO 1R ON JUN/FRI/89 THE AREA WX INCLUDED SCATTERED TSTMS, HAZE, HIGH CEILING BUT LOW SCUD CLOUDS. WHILE ON CLOSE-IN APCH, APCH CTL OFFERED US A VISUAL TO 1R INSTEAD OF THE ILS. HERE'S WHERE THE DECISION I MADE TURNED OUT NOT TO BE THE BEST IDEA. WE WERE CLOSE-IN, THE LAST LEG OF A LONG 5-LEG DAY, THE COPLT WAS FLYING SO I COULD DEVOTE MORE OF MY ATTN OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT SO I ACCEPTED THE VISUAL APCH WHILE STILL HAVING A GUT FEELING THAT IT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA. AS WE APCHED THE MARKER, APCH CTL ASKED IF WE HAD THE RWY. I SAID 'NO' BECAUSE AT THAT POINT THE SCUD CLOUDS PREVENTED ME FROM SEEING 1R ALTHOUGH I HAD HAD IT IN SIGHT MOMENTS BEFORE. THE CTLR SAID, 'TURN RIGHT TO 90 DEG, CLIMB TO 2000'.' AT THAT POINT I SAW THE RWY AGAIN AND SAID, 'I HAVE THE RWY!' THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE CTLR AND I THINK I HEARD HIM IN THE MIDST OF AN INSTRUCTION TO THE ACFT BEHIND US, WE CONTINUED IN, EXPECTING TO BE CLRED FOR THE 'VISUAL'. SECONDS LATER THE CTLR GOT BACK TO US AND SAID 'ACR ARE YOU TURNING TO 90 DEG?' AT THAT POINT WE DISCONTINUED THE APCH, (WITH THE RWY IN FULL VIEW AND IN GOOD POSITION TO LAND) AND FOLLOWED THE PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS. THE SUBSEQUENT APCH AND LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. I LET MYSELF BE TALKED INTO WHAT I FELT WAS A QUESTIONABLE VISUAL APCH. I KNEW BETTER AND NEXT TIME I'LL STICK WITH MY OWN EVALUATION OF WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE AND SAFE OPERATION FROM THE ACFT PERSPECTIVE.

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.