Narrative:

Flying from lga to syr center advised that syr localizer was not available for approach and that syr was using the NDB 28 approach. We contacted approach control who advised us that tower visibility reported at 3/4 mi, the RVR was currently 3400 ft to 4000 ft variable. We required 3/4 or 4000 ft to initiate approach. Approach cleared us for the NDB approach and told us to contact the tower at kirki. The captain was flying the approach. I reported in to the tower at kirki FAF, he told me that tower visibility was currently 3/4 mi, cleared to land. As instructed by the captain, I requested RVR report. The tower reported RVR as 3400 ft. At this point we were already inside the final approach fix. We elected to continue to the final approach fix after approach controller told us RVR reported variable at and below minimums. We made this decision based on tower report of 3/4 visibility. We continued past the final approach fix after receiving report of tower visibility of 3/4 mi, enough for approach. The report of below minimums RVR received after FAF (kirki) inbound. At MDA runway in sight and in normal position to land we elected to land. We received word after landing from our dispatcher and local operations that we may have completed an approach and landing with less than required reported visibility. We feel like we made the correct decision to land based on the information we had. We received the reports in a very critical phase of flight during a very difficult approach in less than perfect conditions.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF ACR MLG ACFT LANDED BELOW AUTHORIZED MINIMUMS.

Narrative: FLYING FROM LGA TO SYR CTR ADVISED THAT SYR LOC WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR APCH AND THAT SYR WAS USING THE NDB 28 APCH. WE CONTACTED APCH CTL WHO ADVISED US THAT TWR VISIBILITY RPTED AT 3/4 MI, THE RVR WAS CURRENTLY 3400 FT TO 4000 FT VARIABLE. WE REQUIRED 3/4 OR 4000 FT TO INITIATE APCH. APCH CLRED US FOR THE NDB APCH AND TOLD US TO CONTACT THE TWR AT KIRKI. THE CAPT WAS FLYING THE APCH. I RPTED IN TO THE TWR AT KIRKI FAF, HE TOLD ME THAT TWR VISIBILITY WAS CURRENTLY 3/4 MI, CLRED TO LAND. AS INSTRUCTED BY THE CAPT, I REQUESTED RVR RPT. THE TWR RPTED RVR AS 3400 FT. AT THIS POINT WE WERE ALREADY INSIDE THE FINAL APCH FIX. WE ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO THE FINAL APCH FIX AFTER APCH CTLR TOLD US RVR RPTED VARIABLE AT AND BELOW MINIMUMS. WE MADE THIS DECISION BASED ON TWR RPT OF 3/4 VISIBILITY. WE CONTINUED PAST THE FINAL APCH FIX AFTER RECEIVING RPT OF TWR VISIBILITY OF 3/4 MI, ENOUGH FOR APCH. THE RPT OF BELOW MINIMUMS RVR RECEIVED AFTER FAF (KIRKI) INBOUND. AT MDA RWY IN SIGHT AND IN NORMAL POS TO LAND WE ELECTED TO LAND. WE RECEIVED WORD AFTER LNDG FROM OUR DISPATCHER AND LCL OPS THAT WE MAY HAVE COMPLETED AN APCH AND LNDG WITH LESS THAN REQUIRED RPTED VISIBILITY. WE FEEL LIKE WE MADE THE CORRECT DECISION TO LAND BASED ON THE INFO WE HAD. WE RECEIVED THE RPTS IN A VERY CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT DURING A VERY DIFFICULT APCH IN LESS THAN PERFECT CONDITIONS.

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.