Narrative:

We were flying from ord to swf. I had read all NOTAMS applicable to our flight and swf airport before departure and had noted revised landing mins for runway 27 at swf (VOR DME approach). WX before approach was reported as VFR with 10 mi of visibility but there were some snow showers in the area. I took the VOR DME 27 approach out to study in case the visibility would reduce. We were cleared for the approach and I asked the captain if I could inquire 1 more time as to the current visibility. Approach (ny) again stated it was 10 mi. (It should be noted that we were first issued a visual approach and then ny approach control noted the visibility reducing, so we were cleared for the VOR DME 27 approach). The approach was normal, all appropriate step downs were flown correctly. However, the approach plate showed a final approach altitude of 472 ft AGL until 15.3 DME. Whereas the NOTAM indicated a revised height of 752 ft AGL with 2 1/4 mi visibility. We had 2 1/4 mi of visibility (more like 3 mi) but I believe the captain may have descended to the original altitude of 472 ft AGL. (I was looking outside for the field). The runway was sighted before our missed approach point of 15.3 DME. A normal landing was made. After remembering the swf NOTAM, I later asked the captain about his possible altitude deviation, and he stated he had the field in sight and was proceeding visually. There may have been no need for this report based on that information. I now rechk NOTAMS after leaving departure airport to jog my memory as to important changes. It should be noted that this captain does not feel he needs to read most of our paperwork, placing the responsibility of catching all changes on me alone.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT DSNDS TO UNAUTH MDA.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING FROM ORD TO SWF. I HAD READ ALL NOTAMS APPLICABLE TO OUR FLT AND SWF ARPT BEFORE DEP AND HAD NOTED REVISED LNDG MINS FOR RWY 27 AT SWF (VOR DME APCH). WX BEFORE APCH WAS RPTED AS VFR WITH 10 MI OF VISIBILITY BUT THERE WERE SOME SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AREA. I TOOK THE VOR DME 27 APCH OUT TO STUDY IN CASE THE VISIBILITY WOULD REDUCE. WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH AND I ASKED THE CAPT IF I COULD INQUIRE 1 MORE TIME AS TO THE CURRENT VISIBILITY. APCH (NY) AGAIN STATED IT WAS 10 MI. (IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WE WERE FIRST ISSUED A VISUAL APCH AND THEN NY APCH CTL NOTED THE VISIBILITY REDUCING, SO WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VOR DME 27 APCH). THE APCH WAS NORMAL, ALL APPROPRIATE STEP DOWNS WERE FLOWN CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, THE APCH PLATE SHOWED A FINAL APCH ALT OF 472 FT AGL UNTIL 15.3 DME. WHEREAS THE NOTAM INDICATED A REVISED HEIGHT OF 752 FT AGL WITH 2 1/4 MI VISIBILITY. WE HAD 2 1/4 MI OF VISIBILITY (MORE LIKE 3 MI) BUT I BELIEVE THE CAPT MAY HAVE DSNDED TO THE ORIGINAL ALT OF 472 FT AGL. (I WAS LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR THE FIELD). THE RWY WAS SIGHTED BEFORE OUR MISSED APCH POINT OF 15.3 DME. A NORMAL LNDG WAS MADE. AFTER REMEMBERING THE SWF NOTAM, I LATER ASKED THE CAPT ABOUT HIS POSSIBLE ALTDEV, AND HE STATED HE HAD THE FIELD IN SIGHT AND WAS PROCEEDING VISUALLY. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN NO NEED FOR THIS RPT BASED ON THAT INFO. I NOW RECHK NOTAMS AFTER LEAVING DEP ARPT TO JOG MY MEMORY AS TO IMPORTANT CHANGES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS CAPT DOES NOT FEEL HE NEEDS TO READ MOST OF OUR PAPERWORK, PLACING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CATCHING ALL CHANGES ON ME ALONE.

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.