Narrative:

At approximately 30 mi northwest of dtw, I contacted approach and requested vectors for a visual approach for landing. Approach informed me that there was snow activity in the area and the field had been IFR earlier, but it was currently VFR. They added that if the field went IFR, they would need me to hold outside the air traffic area for possibly up to 30 mins. I responded that it would be no problem for me to hold for that amount of time. I was then given vectors for the visual approach. The vectors directed me into an area of snow showers. I perceived the snow activity to be light before entrance into the condition. However, after entering the area of snow activity, I realized that my forward visibility was limited. I contacted approach and told them that I was in a snow squall. They monitored my progress and asked if I had the airport in sight at 4 mi, 3 mi, 2 mi, and 1 mi. At 1 mi out I broke out of the area of snow showers and reported the field in sight. I was well off the centerline of the runway and could not safely land. I declared an aborted landing. I was given instructions to land on the opposite runway. I failed to effectively tell approach that my visibility was less than 3 mi. However, they failed to inform me that the air traffic area had less than 3 mi visibility.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENCOUNTERS WX ENRTE, RADAR VECTORED TO ARPT. FAILS TO INFORM ATC OF FLYING IN SNOW.

Narrative: AT APPROX 30 MI NW OF DTW, I CONTACTED APCH AND REQUESTED VECTORS FOR A VISUAL APCH FOR LNDG. APCH INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS SNOW ACTIVITY IN THE AREA AND THE FIELD HAD BEEN IFR EARLIER, BUT IT WAS CURRENTLY VFR. THEY ADDED THAT IF THE FIELD WENT IFR, THEY WOULD NEED ME TO HOLD OUTSIDE THE ATA FOR POSSIBLY UP TO 30 MINS. I RESPONDED THAT IT WOULD BE NO PROB FOR ME TO HOLD FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME. I WAS THEN GIVEN VECTORS FOR THE VISUAL APCH. THE VECTORS DIRECTED ME INTO AN AREA OF SNOW SHOWERS. I PERCEIVED THE SNOW ACTIVITY TO BE LIGHT BEFORE ENTRANCE INTO THE CONDITION. HOWEVER, AFTER ENTERING THE AREA OF SNOW ACTIVITY, I REALIZED THAT MY FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED. I CONTACTED APCH AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS IN A SNOW SQUALL. THEY MONITORED MY PROGRESS AND ASKED IF I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AT 4 MI, 3 MI, 2 MI, AND 1 MI. AT 1 MI OUT I BROKE OUT OF THE AREA OF SNOW SHOWERS AND RPTED THE FIELD IN SIGHT. I WAS WELL OFF THE CTRLINE OF THE RWY AND COULD NOT SAFELY LAND. I DECLARED AN ABORTED LNDG. I WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO LAND ON THE OPPOSITE RWY. I FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY TELL APCH THAT MY VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 3 MI. HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO INFORM ME THAT THE ATA HAD LESS THAN 3 MI VISIBILITY.

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.