Narrative:

Our flight was en route from kapalua west maui to hnl (approximately 70 mi distance between). We were on an IFR flight plan and handed over to hnl approach 35 NM out of hnl. The approach controller advised us we would be vectored for the VOR runway 4 approach (usually it would be the ILS to 4R but that approach was OTS). As we briefed for the approach, we noted that 1 mi visibility was required for the procedure (which, according to the ATIS, indicated there was adequate visibility). As we were setting up for the approach, we overheard the controller give the visibility at the field as 1/2 mi. After verifying this with her we told her we would be unable to attempt the procedure with the visibility as it was, to which she replied 'would you like to try it anyway and see how it is at minimums?' we told her that we were unable to attempt it with a 1/2 mi visibility and asked to be vectored for the 8L ILS. We then received a west vector for the ILS and given a climb to 3000 ft. As we started to set up for the ILS we were given a southeast heading and told that the runways were being switched around (to 22 and 26). The controller advised that we were now on vectors for the lda 26L approach. We quickly pulled out the plates for the lda and, as we were briefing the approach, we were turned to a final intercept heading and the course was beginning to 'come in,' or center on my HSI (we were inside initial approach fix). We were cleared for the approach and handed to tower. As I hand flew the approach, my first officer was giving me the altitudes and distances to step down at. As we rushed through the approach we missed noting the visibility requirement, which was 2 mi for that particular approach. We did have to 'miss' at the missed approach point, but as we started the missed approach procedure, we broke out in VMC and landed VFR on runway 8L. According to the FARS, we were required to have 2 mi visibility in order to shoot the approach. The last visibility given to us was 1/2 mi, thus, we executed the approach with less than the visibility required. The things that contributed to this happening were being too closely vectored in for the approach, an inadequate crew briefing on the procedure, and the controller giving us an approach with a higher minimum required than the first one given (VOR) which we rejected.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER SMT LANDS WITH LESS THAN REQUIRED MINIMUMS.

Narrative: OUR FLT WAS ENRTE FROM KAPALUA W MAUI TO HNL (APPROX 70 MI DISTANCE BTWN). WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND HANDED OVER TO HNL APCH 35 NM OUT OF HNL. THE APCH CTLR ADVISED US WE WOULD BE VECTORED FOR THE VOR RWY 4 APCH (USUALLY IT WOULD BE THE ILS TO 4R BUT THAT APCH WAS OTS). AS WE BRIEFED FOR THE APCH, WE NOTED THAT 1 MI VISIBILITY WAS REQUIRED FOR THE PROC (WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE ATIS, INDICATED THERE WAS ADEQUATE VISIBILITY). AS WE WERE SETTING UP FOR THE APCH, WE OVERHEARD THE CTLR GIVE THE VISIBILITY AT THE FIELD AS 1/2 MI. AFTER VERIFYING THIS WITH HER WE TOLD HER WE WOULD BE UNABLE TO ATTEMPT THE PROC WITH THE VISIBILITY AS IT WAS, TO WHICH SHE REPLIED 'WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY IT ANYWAY AND SEE HOW IT IS AT MINIMUMS?' WE TOLD HER THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO ATTEMPT IT WITH A 1/2 MI VISIBILITY AND ASKED TO BE VECTORED FOR THE 8L ILS. WE THEN RECEIVED A W VECTOR FOR THE ILS AND GIVEN A CLB TO 3000 FT. AS WE STARTED TO SET UP FOR THE ILS WE WERE GIVEN A SE HDG AND TOLD THAT THE RWYS WERE BEING SWITCHED AROUND (TO 22 AND 26). THE CTLR ADVISED THAT WE WERE NOW ON VECTORS FOR THE LDA 26L APCH. WE QUICKLY PULLED OUT THE PLATES FOR THE LDA AND, AS WE WERE BRIEFING THE APCH, WE WERE TURNED TO A FINAL INTERCEPT HDG AND THE COURSE WAS BEGINNING TO 'COME IN,' OR CTR ON MY HSI (WE WERE INSIDE INITIAL APCH FIX). WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH AND HANDED TO TWR. AS I HAND FLEW THE APCH, MY FO WAS GIVING ME THE ALTS AND DISTANCES TO STEP DOWN AT. AS WE RUSHED THROUGH THE APCH WE MISSED NOTING THE VISIBILITY REQUIREMENT, WHICH WAS 2 MI FOR THAT PARTICULAR APCH. WE DID HAVE TO 'MISS' AT THE MISSED APCH POINT, BUT AS WE STARTED THE MISSED APCH PROC, WE BROKE OUT IN VMC AND LANDED VFR ON RWY 8L. ACCORDING TO THE FARS, WE WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE 2 MI VISIBILITY IN ORDER TO SHOOT THE APCH. THE LAST VISIBILITY GIVEN TO US WAS 1/2 MI, THUS, WE EXECUTED THE APCH WITH LESS THAN THE VISIBILITY REQUIRED. THE THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS HAPPENING WERE BEING TOO CLOSELY VECTORED IN FOR THE APCH, AN INADEQUATE CREW BRIEFING ON THE PROC, AND THE CTLR GIVING US AN APCH WITH A HIGHER MINIMUM REQUIRED THAN THE FIRST ONE GIVEN (VOR) WHICH WE REJECTED.

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.