Narrative:

Departure, climb and cruise were all normal. On descent to bethel we were preparing for an ILS DME runway 18 approach to the airport following the arc from weeke intersection. We broke out below the ceiling around 20 mi out. The check airman who was flying, said call the airport in sight for the visual. I replied I didn't see the field but radioed his request. We were cleared for the visual. The captain instructed me to set 1600 ft in the altitude alerter. I did. I'm new to alaska and I am unfamiliar with these airports. On check the airport elevation 1600 ft seemed normal pattern altitude. At 1600 ft and 15 mi out I was wondering if he could see the field. We started descending out of 1600 ft. I noted our altitude at 1000 ft and he continued his descent. He never replied. At 700 ft and 10 mi out I tuned the localizer. He told me to return to the VOR frequency. I did. (Later he said I could kill someone by doing this in alaska.) shortly, we passed over town (210 KTS), saw the field, flaps, gear, 40-45 degree banks, through final -- return to final at 500 ft and then we land. This man's reputation is dangerous. I now know why. We violated several regulations to include going below the GS when one is available, less than 1000 ft over congested area (flew over town), calling for a visual when, in fact, he did not, nor did I, have the airport in sight. Dangerous and careless operation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FO RPTS THAT HIS CHK AIRMAN DID ALL MANNER OF DUMB AND ILLEGAL THINGS, SUCH AS FLYING BELOW THE GS, FLYING LOW OVER A TOWN, AND PRETENDING TO FOLLOW COMPANY PROCS.

Narrative: DEP, CLB AND CRUISE WERE ALL NORMAL. ON DSCNT TO BETHEL WE WERE PREPARING FOR AN ILS DME RWY 18 APCH TO THE ARPT FOLLOWING THE ARC FROM WEEKE INTXN. WE BROKE OUT BELOW THE CEILING AROUND 20 MI OUT. THE CHK AIRMAN WHO WAS FLYING, SAID CALL THE ARPT IN SIGHT FOR THE VISUAL. I REPLIED I DIDN'T SEE THE FIELD BUT RADIOED HIS REQUEST. WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL. THE CAPT INSTRUCTED ME TO SET 1600 FT IN THE ALT ALERTER. I DID. I'M NEW TO ALASKA AND I AM UNFAMILIAR WITH THESE ARPTS. ON CHK THE ARPT ELEVATION 1600 FT SEEMED NORMAL PATTERN ALT. AT 1600 FT AND 15 MI OUT I WAS WONDERING IF HE COULD SEE THE FIELD. WE STARTED DSNDING OUT OF 1600 FT. I NOTED OUR ALT AT 1000 FT AND HE CONTINUED HIS DSCNT. HE NEVER REPLIED. AT 700 FT AND 10 MI OUT I TUNED THE LOC. HE TOLD ME TO RETURN TO THE VOR FREQ. I DID. (LATER HE SAID I COULD KILL SOMEONE BY DOING THIS IN ALASKA.) SHORTLY, WE PASSED OVER TOWN (210 KTS), SAW THE FIELD, FLAPS, GEAR, 40-45 DEG BANKS, THROUGH FINAL -- RETURN TO FINAL AT 500 FT AND THEN WE LAND. THIS MAN'S REPUTATION IS DANGEROUS. I NOW KNOW WHY. WE VIOLATED SEVERAL REGS TO INCLUDE GOING BELOW THE GS WHEN ONE IS AVAILABLE, LESS THAN 1000 FT OVER CONGESTED AREA (FLEW OVER TOWN), CALLING FOR A VISUAL WHEN, IN FACT, HE DID NOT, NOR DID I, HAVE THE ARPT IN SIGHT. DANGEROUS AND CARELESS OP.

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.