Narrative:

We proceeded from ewr to phl to mem, and were told to fuel and file for iad-bos-ewr. After checking WX for iad and bos we filed for iad and departed. Arriving into the dulles terminal area, the ATIS was in the progress of being updated--so when we contacted approach control he advised us to stand by for new WX. The WX was 2000 overcast southwest, with winds 31/32G 48 KTS. We opted for the ILS 1L circle to runway 30. We were cleared to land on 30. After T/D we noticed debris on runway and came to find out the first 4000' were closed. There were no men or equipment on or near the runway at the time. We found out that they were trying to open the runway later that day, so most of the barricades were gone. Reviewing the flight I realized how many links in the chain of events had been broken and how accidents happen. At the beginning of flight we checked WX, but were not issued NOTAMS nor did we request them. When handed off from center to approach with ATIS being updated we didn't have the information about runway 30. When approach read WX, no mention was made about runway 30. The biggest breakdown however occurred when tower cleared us to circle and land runway 30. They made no mention of first 4000' closed, and after talking over the phone acknowledged this fact. I think there also needs to be better markings on closed runways or portions thereof so that when marginal WX conditions exist there is no question as to where the threshold begins.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA LTT IN CHARTER CARGO OPERATION LANDED SHORT OF DISPLACED THRESHOLD AT IAD.

Narrative: WE PROCEEDED FROM EWR TO PHL TO MEM, AND WERE TOLD TO FUEL AND FILE FOR IAD-BOS-EWR. AFTER CHKING WX FOR IAD AND BOS WE FILED FOR IAD AND DEPARTED. ARRIVING INTO THE DULLES TERMINAL AREA, THE ATIS WAS IN THE PROGRESS OF BEING UPDATED--SO WHEN WE CONTACTED APCH CTL HE ADVISED US TO STAND BY FOR NEW WX. THE WX WAS 2000 OVCST SW, WITH WINDS 31/32G 48 KTS. WE OPTED FOR THE ILS 1L CIRCLE TO RWY 30. WE WERE CLRED TO LAND ON 30. AFTER T/D WE NOTICED DEBRIS ON RWY AND CAME TO FIND OUT THE FIRST 4000' WERE CLOSED. THERE WERE NO MEN OR EQUIP ON OR NEAR THE RWY AT THE TIME. WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO OPEN THE RWY LATER THAT DAY, SO MOST OF THE BARRICADES WERE GONE. REVIEWING THE FLT I REALIZED HOW MANY LINKS IN THE CHAIN OF EVENTS HAD BEEN BROKEN AND HOW ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. AT THE BEGINNING OF FLT WE CHKED WX, BUT WERE NOT ISSUED NOTAMS NOR DID WE REQUEST THEM. WHEN HANDED OFF FROM CENTER TO APCH WITH ATIS BEING UPDATED WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFO ABOUT RWY 30. WHEN APCH READ WX, NO MENTION WAS MADE ABOUT RWY 30. THE BIGGEST BREAKDOWN HOWEVER OCCURRED WHEN TWR CLRED US TO CIRCLE AND LAND RWY 30. THEY MADE NO MENTION OF FIRST 4000' CLOSED, AND AFTER TALKING OVER THE PHONE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS FACT. I THINK THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE BETTER MARKINGS ON CLOSED RWYS OR PORTIONS THEREOF SO THAT WHEN MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS EXIST THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO WHERE THE THRESHOLD BEGINS.

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.