Cpr small transport made a circling visual approach and landing at lwt in WX reported below VFR mini...

Attributes
ACN	130060
Time
Date	198911
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lwt
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 2200
ASRS Report	130060
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We departed great falls int'l in VFR conditions en route to lewistown, mt. WX at gtf was 11,000 thin overcast with 30 mi visibility and lwt was forecast the same. We climbed on course direct to lwt, leveling off at 9500 and monitored ZLC on 133.40. 15 mi west of lwt VOR I started a descent down to 6000. 3 mi west of the lwt VOR I called lwt FSS with my position and requested an airport advisory. Lwt FSS then reported the WX as 1000 sky obscured, 2 mi visibility, wind light and variable, and no reported traffic. By then we were passing over the lwt VOR at 6000 with the aircraft configured for landing. I then reported on a 5 mi final to runway 07. At this time I had the ground and the airport environment in sight. Because the runway was covered with snow, I made a circle to land -7 for a closer inspection before landing. My decision to land VFR was based upon my having a slant range visibility of 5 mi.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR SMT MADE A CIRCLING VISUAL APCH AND LNDG AT LWT IN WX REPORTED BELOW VFR MINIMUMS.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED GREAT FALLS INT'L IN VFR CONDITIONS ENRTE TO LEWISTOWN, MT. WX AT GTF WAS 11,000 THIN OVCST WITH 30 MI VISIBILITY AND LWT WAS FORECAST THE SAME. WE CLIMBED ON COURSE DIRECT TO LWT, LEVELING OFF AT 9500 AND MONITORED ZLC ON 133.40. 15 MI W OF LWT VOR I STARTED A DSCNT DOWN TO 6000. 3 MI W OF THE LWT VOR I CALLED LWT FSS WITH MY POSITION AND REQUESTED AN ARPT ADVISORY. LWT FSS THEN REPORTED THE WX AS 1000 SKY OBSCURED, 2 MI VISIBILITY, WIND LIGHT AND VARIABLE, AND NO REPORTED TFC. BY THEN WE WERE PASSING OVER THE LWT VOR AT 6000 WITH THE ACFT CONFIGURED FOR LNDG. I THEN REPORTED ON A 5 MI FINAL TO RWY 07. AT THIS TIME I HAD THE GND AND THE ARPT ENVIRONMENT IN SIGHT. BECAUSE THE RWY WAS COVERED WITH SNOW, I MADE A CIRCLE TO LAND -7 FOR A CLOSER INSPECTION BEFORE LNDG. MY DECISION TO LAND VFR WAS BASED UPON MY HAVING A SLANT RANGE VISIBILITY OF 5 MI.

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.

Cpr small transport made a circling visual approach and landing at lwt in WX reported below VFR minimums.