Atx small transport approach landing in WX reported below airport landing minimums.

Attributes
ACN	182879
Time
Date	199107
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord airport : lrd
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 340
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lrd
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 364 flight time total : 1594 flight time type : 38
ASRS Report	182879
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from san antonio to lrd, ZHU had given me the lrd WX as 200' ceiling 1/4 mi visibility in fog. As I got closer to lrd, shortly before center handed me off to lrd tower, I heard center giving another company aircraft that was about 15 mins behind me the lrd WX as 400' and 1/2 mi in fog. When center handed me off to lrd tower they gave me the visibility as 1 1/8 mi in fog. They did not give the ceiling. I was cleared for the ILS to 17R and made the approach. I saw the runway at 860' MSL (340' AGL) and made a normal transition and landing. After unloading and securing the aircraft and the other company aircraft was in, the other pilot and I were discussing the WX and how the reports he had gotten were up and down. I called the FSS to get the WX and they were reporting 400' ceiling and 1/4 mi visibility. The problem is I think I might have misunderstood the controller, mistaking his saying 1/8 mi for 1 1/8, and possibly broken the far and company regulation for visibility in starting the approach. I am new at flying for a 135 operation and realize now how important it is to be sure and understand the controller precisely in this and all situations and to confirm all the information.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX SMT APCH LNDG IN WX REPORTED BELOW ARPT LNDG MINIMUMS.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM SAN ANTONIO TO LRD, ZHU HAD GIVEN ME THE LRD WX AS 200' CEILING 1/4 MI VISIBILITY IN FOG. AS I GOT CLOSER TO LRD, SHORTLY BEFORE CENTER HANDED ME OFF TO LRD TWR, I HEARD CENTER GIVING ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT THAT WAS ABOUT 15 MINS BEHIND ME THE LRD WX AS 400' AND 1/2 MI IN FOG. WHEN CENTER HANDED ME OFF TO LRD TWR THEY GAVE ME THE VISIBILITY AS 1 1/8 MI IN FOG. THEY DID NOT GIVE THE CEILING. I WAS CLRED FOR THE ILS TO 17R AND MADE THE APCH. I SAW THE RWY AT 860' MSL (340' AGL) AND MADE A NORMAL TRANSITION AND LNDG. AFTER UNLOADING AND SECURING THE ACFT AND THE OTHER COMPANY ACFT WAS IN, THE OTHER PLT AND I WERE DISCUSSING THE WX AND HOW THE RPTS HE HAD GOTTEN WERE UP AND DOWN. I CALLED THE FSS TO GET THE WX AND THEY WERE RPTING 400' CEILING AND 1/4 MI VISIBILITY. THE PROB IS I THINK I MIGHT HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE CTLR, MISTAKING HIS SAYING 1/8 MI FOR 1 1/8, AND POSSIBLY BROKEN THE FAR AND COMPANY REG FOR VISIBILITY IN STARTING THE APCH. I AM NEW AT FLYING FOR A 135 OPERATION AND REALIZE NOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE SURE AND UNDERSTAND THE CTLR PRECISELY IN THIS AND ALL SITUATIONS AND TO CONFIRM ALL THE INFO.

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.