Commuter light transport shot approach and landed when the RVR had been reported below minimums.

Attributes
ACN	142394
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1900 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea tower : sea
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 5400
ASRS Report	142394
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
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
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

We were given the following clrncs, turn right heading 130 degree, intercept the 16 localizer. Maintain 3000' until established cleared for approach, runway 16R RVR 2000. Contact tower. We contacted tower as we descended through 2600' MSL, tower reported RVR 1600, I acknowledged, 'roger'. We continued approach to minimums, where I saw the runway environment, and advised first officer, 'I have lights, I have aircraft'. We landed normally. On rollout tower reported RVR to next aircraft as 2000. I was not sure if the 3000' restriction constituted a new precision approach fix for the ILS. I wondered if we should have missed the approach. However, I interpreted the 3000' as our FAF on the ILS and continued. No discussion occurred with the tower. I have tried to disseminate this from the far's and cannot come up with a definite answer. Survey of other company crew members shows same vague interpretation of far.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT SHOT APCH AND LANDED WHEN THE RVR HAD BEEN REPORTED BELOW MINIMUMS.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING CLRNCS, TURN R HDG 130 DEG, INTERCEPT THE 16 LOC. MAINTAIN 3000' UNTIL ESTABLISHED CLRED FOR APCH, RWY 16R RVR 2000. CONTACT TWR. WE CONTACTED TWR AS WE DSNDED THROUGH 2600' MSL, TWR RPTED RVR 1600, I ACKNOWLEDGED, 'ROGER'. WE CONTINUED APCH TO MINIMUMS, WHERE I SAW THE RWY ENVIRONMENT, AND ADVISED F/O, 'I HAVE LIGHTS, I HAVE ACFT'. WE LANDED NORMALLY. ON ROLLOUT TWR RPTED RVR TO NEXT ACFT AS 2000. I WAS NOT SURE IF THE 3000' RESTRICTION CONSTITUTED A NEW PRECISION APCH FIX FOR THE ILS. I WONDERED IF WE SHOULD HAVE MISSED THE APCH. HOWEVER, I INTERPRETED THE 3000' AS OUR FAF ON THE ILS AND CONTINUED. NO DISCUSSION OCCURRED WITH THE TWR. I HAVE TRIED TO DISSEMINATE THIS FROM THE FAR'S AND CANNOT COME UP WITH A DEFINITE ANSWER. SURVEY OF OTHER COMPANY CREW MEMBERS SHOWS SAME VAGUE INTERPRETATION OF FAR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.