Narrative:

Aircraft X entered our airspace VFR trying to 'pick' his way through the weather to make a landing at mqy. I received the brief from the outgoing controller and reached out to aircraft X and asked if he was IFR capable to which he responded yes. I asked if he would like to file a local IFR to mqy and set up for an ILS approach to help in getting him safely to the airport. He declined. After a few more minutes at an altitude of about 8500 feet I advised the aircraft that he could not continue his current flight path at that altitude because I had multiple jets arriving and departing bna that were also deviating for weather. I would need him to either change course or descend. At this time aircraft X asked for a local IFR to mqy; I issued the clearance via radar vectors; assigned him a heading and to maintain 3000 feet. I again asked if he wanted vectors for the ILS runway 32 to mqy and he again said no that he wanted the visual approach. A few moments passed and he asked if he could get lower and asked for a left 360 degree turn to help him get lower and spot the airport. I approved his left turn and assigned 2500 feet which is the bottom of our minimum vectoring altitude in that area.as I turned my attention back to the other aircraft a low altitude alarm was received and aircraft X was observed at 2200 feet and descending. As I reached out to him to issue the minimum vectoring altitude and climb him he stated that he had the runway in sight and was cleared for the approach. The supervisor on duty then contacted mqy tower and instructed them to issue him the brasher warning.the pilot needs to be more aware of his surroundings; the weather; the MVA in the area he is flying; and follow the instructions issued by ATC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BNA TRACON Controller descended an aircraft to the MVA to aid a pilot in sighting an airport for a visual approach. The Controller observed the aircraft descend below the MVA and report the airport in sight. The Controller cleared the aircraft for a visual approach.

Narrative: Aircraft X entered our airspace VFR trying to 'pick' his way through the weather to make a landing at MQY. I received the brief from the outgoing controller and reached out to Aircraft X and asked if he was IFR capable to which he responded yes. I asked if he would like to file a local IFR to MQY and set up for an ILS approach to help in getting him safely to the airport. He declined. After a few more minutes at an altitude of about 8500 feet I advised the aircraft that he could not continue his current flight path at that altitude because I had multiple jets arriving and departing BNA that were also deviating for weather. I would need him to either change course or descend. At this time Aircraft X asked for a local IFR to MQY; I issued the clearance via radar vectors; assigned him a heading and to maintain 3000 feet. I again asked if he wanted vectors for the ILS runway 32 to MQY and he again said no that he wanted the visual approach. A few moments passed and he asked if he could get lower and asked for a left 360 degree turn to help him get lower and spot the airport. I approved his left turn and assigned 2500 feet which is the bottom of our minimum vectoring altitude in that area.As I turned my attention back to the other aircraft a low altitude alarm was received and Aircraft X was observed at 2200 feet and descending. As I reached out to him to issue the minimum vectoring altitude and climb him he stated that he had the runway in sight and was cleared for the approach. The supervisor on duty then contacted MQY Tower and instructed them to issue him the brasher warning.The pilot needs to be more aware of his surroundings; the weather; the MVA in the area he is flying; and follow the instructions issued by ATC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.