Narrative:

While on a right downwind to runway 16R at smf, I was advised the RVR was 800', prevailing visibility was 3/4 mi. I was in visibility conditions at the time and could see the airport. I informed approach control that if I couldn't do a visibility approach, I needed 1200' RVR to make an instrument approach. The copilot descended the aircraft to 2500' and we were given a hold at metropolitan as published, with an efc of XX30 Z. Approximately 1 mi from metropolitan I could see the approach lights and runway 16R. I advised approach that I had the runway. He said there was some question concerning the accuracy of the RVR and told me to contact tower. I contacted tower and said I had the runway in sight and was told 'cleared to land.' the approach was continued and the landing was uneventful. Flight visibility was at least 7 mi. In retrospect I'm not sure I made a legal approach. RVR is controling, and if it was malfunctioning,perhaps I should have waited for it to be shut down before making an approach. Also, I don't recall the approach controller's exact words concerning the type of approach I was cleared to make.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG APCH LNDG IN WX REPORTED BELOW ARPT MINIMUMS FOR LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE ON A RIGHT DOWNWIND TO RWY 16R AT SMF, I WAS ADVISED THE RVR WAS 800', PREVAILING VISIBILITY WAS 3/4 MI. I WAS IN VIS CONDITIONS AT THE TIME AND COULD SEE THE ARPT. I INFORMED APCH CTL THAT IF I COULDN'T DO A VIS APCH, I NEEDED 1200' RVR TO MAKE AN INSTRUMENT APCH. THE COPLT DSNDED THE ACFT TO 2500' AND WE WERE GIVEN A HOLD AT METRO AS PUBLISHED, WITH AN EFC OF XX30 Z. APPROX 1 MI FROM METRO I COULD SEE THE APCH LIGHTS AND RWY 16R. I ADVISED APCH THAT I HAD THE RWY. HE SAID THERE WAS SOME QUESTION CONCERNING THE ACCURACY OF THE RVR AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT TWR. I CONTACTED TWR AND SAID I HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT AND WAS TOLD 'CLRED TO LAND.' THE APCH WAS CONTINUED AND THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. FLT VISIBILITY WAS AT LEAST 7 MI. IN RETROSPECT I'M NOT SURE I MADE A LEGAL APCH. RVR IS CTLING, AND IF IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING,PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR IT TO BE SHUT DOWN BEFORE MAKING AN APCH. ALSO, I DON'T RECALL THE APCH CTLR'S EXACT WORDS CONCERNING THE TYPE OF APCH I WAS CLRED TO MAKE.

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.