Air carrier medium large transport flight crew encounters WX on approach to mem.

Attributes
ACN	179684
Time
Date	199105
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : missed approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	179684
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on final approach for an ILS 36L at mem, and had been deviating around cells in the area. A cell was very close to the G/south intercept point, and the captain had deviated to the left around the cell. During the deviation, we went about the G/south at 2000', which we were to maintain until established, and we were cleared for approach. We requested an lower altitude from the approach controller to try to drop down and have a chance to get established on the inbound course and have the G/south be off the peg. The only way would have been to be cleared to 1800' and get established on course, then intercept the G/south. When asking the controller for lower, he seemed confused by the request (the plate has 1800' when given by ATC). By the time this was sorted out, the G/south was well below and a go around was necessary. We were given climb to 2000' and a heading change. Shot approach to west and landed with no further problem. I think everything was legal and handled well, but the deviation in close for WX made it hard to fly the approach, and the controller not understanding why we would want lower altitude after cleared for approach made the situation seem worse.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG FLT CREW ENCOUNTERS WX ON APCH TO MEM.

Narrative: WE WERE ON FINAL APCH FOR AN ILS 36L AT MEM, AND HAD BEEN DEVIATING AROUND CELLS IN THE AREA. A CELL WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE G/S INTERCEPT POINT, AND THE CAPT HAD DEVIATED TO THE LEFT AROUND THE CELL. DURING THE DEVIATION, WE WENT ABOUT THE G/S AT 2000', WHICH WE WERE TO MAINTAIN UNTIL ESTABLISHED, AND WE WERE CLRED FOR APCH. WE REQUESTED AN LOWER ALT FROM THE APCH CTLR TO TRY TO DROP DOWN AND HAVE A CHANCE TO GET ESTABLISHED ON THE INBND COURSE AND HAVE THE G/S BE OFF THE PEG. THE ONLY WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO BE CLRED TO 1800' AND GET ESTABLISHED ON COURSE, THEN INTERCEPT THE G/S. WHEN ASKING THE CTLR FOR LOWER, HE SEEMED CONFUSED BY THE REQUEST (THE PLATE HAS 1800' WHEN GIVEN BY ATC). BY THE TIME THIS WAS SORTED OUT, THE G/S WAS WELL BELOW AND A GAR WAS NECESSARY. WE WERE GIVEN CLB TO 2000' AND A HDG CHANGE. SHOT APCH TO W AND LANDED WITH NO FURTHER PROB. I THINK EVERYTHING WAS LEGAL AND HANDLED WELL, BUT THE DEVIATION IN CLOSE FOR WX MADE IT HARD TO FLY THE APCH, AND THE CTLR NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE WOULD WANT LOWER ALT AFTER CLRED FOR APCH MADE THE SITUATION SEEM WORSE.

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.