Pilot cleared for visual approach violated cloud clearance distance during descent.

Attributes
ACN	144179
Time
Date	199004
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tyr
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : tyr tracon : yyz
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other 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 : 270 flight time total : 2600
ASRS Report	144179
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather 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

Narrative:

Aircraft was cleared to intercept the 211 degree right of tyler VOR, 10 DME fix called at 10 DME fix and was told to proceed to 5 DME fix. Called at 5 DME fix, told to proceed to VOR. We were on top of clouds over VOR and asked for instructions. Approach control asked if airport in sight. Captain answered yes. Tower gave a visibility approach clearance captain violated clouds on descent to airport in violation of FARS. Should have denied approach clearance and gone missed approach because approach impossible in VFR conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT CLEARED FOR VISUAL APCH VIOLATED CLOUD CLRNC DISTANCE DURING DESCENT.

Narrative: ACFT WAS CLRED TO INTERCEPT THE 211 DEG R OF TYLER VOR, 10 DME FIX CALLED AT 10 DME FIX AND WAS TOLD TO PROCEED TO 5 DME FIX. CALLED AT 5 DME FIX, TOLD TO PROCEED TO VOR. WE WERE ON TOP OF CLOUDS OVER VOR AND ASKED FOR INSTRUCTIONS. APCH CTL ASKED IF ARPT IN SIGHT. CAPT ANSWERED YES. TWR GAVE A VIS APCH CLRNC CAPT VIOLATED CLOUDS ON DSNT TO ARPT IN VIOLATION OF FARS. SHOULD HAVE DENIED APCH CLRNC AND GONE MISSED APCH BECAUSE APCH IMPOSSIBLE IN VFR CONDITIONS.

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.