Pilot questions application of visual approach when airport not in sight.

Attributes
ACN	131671
Time
Date	198912
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	131671
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During approach to sfo 28L, approach control called out traffic for 28R and cleared us for a visual approach to 28L. We advised approach control that the traffic was in sight 1 mi ahead, but that we did not have visual contact with the airport. Again approach control cleared us for a visual approach to 28L even though we had reported negative contact with the airport. We again advised the approach controller that we did not have the airport in sight, and this time we were cleared for an ILS to 28L. When we were cleared for the ILS approach, our distance in trail of the aircraft for 28R was 1 mi. We question the safety of an ILS clearance under these conditions. Who is responsible to maintain separation with the aircraft on approach to 28R? Are we to maintain visual contact as well as fly an ILS approach?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT QUESTIONS APPLICATION OF VISUAL APCH WHEN ARPT NOT IN SIGHT.

Narrative: DURING APCH TO SFO 28L, APCH CTL CALLED OUT TFC FOR 28R AND CLRED US FOR A VISUAL APCH TO 28L. WE ADVISED APCH CTL THAT THE TFC WAS IN SIGHT 1 MI AHEAD, BUT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE ARPT. AGAIN APCH CTL CLRED US FOR A VISUAL APCH TO 28L EVEN THOUGH WE HAD REPORTED NEGATIVE CONTACT WITH THE ARPT. WE AGAIN ADVISED THE APCH CTLR THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE ARPT IN SIGHT, AND THIS TIME WE WERE CLRED FOR AN ILS TO 28L. WHEN WE WERE CLRED FOR THE ILS APCH, OUR DISTANCE IN TRAIL OF THE ACFT FOR 28R WAS 1 MI. WE QUESTION THE SAFETY OF AN ILS CLRNC UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION WITH THE ACFT ON APCH TO 28R? ARE WE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AS WELL AS FLY AN ILS APCH?

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.