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IMC in VFR flight in acceptance of SVFR approach to fog obscured runway with visibility less than 1 mi.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 228915 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199212 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : gup |
| State Reference | NM |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other cruise other landing other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 950 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 228915 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | other personnel other |
| Qualification | other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Returning to gallup, NM, later than anticipated, the WX at my destination went below VFR mins due to a thin shifting layer of fog that essentially enveloped only the runway and airport buildings. The reils, the runway and the airport were clearly visible from above. The RVR reported on the ground by flight service on the field varied from 1/4 mi to almost a mi. I diverted to window rock to wait for the conditions to improve at gallup. Window rock was VFR. While I was in the pattern at window rock, I was offered a SVFR clearance into gallup based on my ability to see the runway, approach lights, etc. I accepted the clearance, based on the belief that it was legal for me to do so and that I was able to see the runway environment and I could land safely. The fog started about 30 ft AGL and did not interfere with my landing. Visibility was less than a mi on the ground. I now know I erred in accepting a SVFR clearance at night and in landing in those conditions. I should have refused the clearance and stayed in window rock until conditions improved.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: IMC IN VFR FLT IN ACCEPTANCE OF SVFR APCH TO FOG OBSCURED RWY WITH VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1 MI.
Narrative: RETURNING TO GALLUP, NM, LATER THAN ANTICIPATED, THE WX AT MY DEST WENT BELOW VFR MINS DUE TO A THIN SHIFTING LAYER OF FOG THAT ESSENTIALLY ENVELOPED ONLY THE RWY AND ARPT BUILDINGS. THE REILS, THE RWY AND THE ARPT WERE CLRLY VISIBLE FROM ABOVE. THE RVR RPTED ON THE GND BY FLT SVC ON THE FIELD VARIED FROM 1/4 MI TO ALMOST A MI. I DIVERTED TO WINDOW ROCK TO WAIT FOR THE CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE AT GALLUP. WINDOW ROCK WAS VFR. WHILE I WAS IN THE PATTERN AT WINDOW ROCK, I WAS OFFERED A SVFR CLRNC INTO GALLUP BASED ON MY ABILITY TO SEE THE RWY, APCH LIGHTS, ETC. I ACCEPTED THE CLRNC, BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT IT WAS LEGAL FOR ME TO DO SO AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE RWY ENVIRONMENT AND I COULD LAND SAFELY. THE FOG STARTED ABOUT 30 FT AGL AND DID NOT INTERFERE WITH MY LNDG. VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN A MI ON THE GND. I NOW KNOW I ERRED IN ACCEPTING A SVFR CLRNC AT NIGHT AND IN LNDG IN THOSE CONDITIONS. I SHOULD HAVE REFUSED THE CLRNC AND STAYED IN WINDOW ROCK UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVED.
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.