Cpr aircraft receives inaccurate WX report. Requests ILS approach when assigned a visual and unable.

Attributes
ACN	238892
Time
Date	199304
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msl
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 2700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 8580 flight time type : 2711
ASRS Report	238892
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

MSL was reporting 25000 broken 7 mi according to preflight briefing and arrival briefing by ZME. We called FSS to question WX because we were flying over an undercast that appeared to cover the airport. We got the same report as above. Mem wanted us (cleared us) for a visual approach. When we asked for a vector to an ILS due to WX, the controller couldn't understand why. We had to explain to him that we were on top of an undercast while flying at 2700 ft MSL and the WX covered the airport. He said that he checked with MSL FSS and still got 25000 broken. We finally convinced him that we wanted to fly the ILS 29 approach and he vectored us accordingly. During approach, WX was observed as tops 2200 MSL and bases 1700 MSL (1200 AGL) and 2 1/2 mi visibility. After reporting this to FSS, they changed their observation. After landing, my discussion with FSS operator revealed that 'he didn't know when the WX changed.' this is second report to you this yr about MSL FSS. This is also an air carrier airport. There has to be better way to get accurate WX to the flcs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR ACFT RECEIVES INACCURATE WX RPT. REQUESTS ILS APCH WHEN ASSIGNED A VISUAL AND UNABLE.

Narrative: MSL WAS RPTING 25000 BROKEN 7 MI ACCORDING TO PREFLT BRIEFING AND ARR BRIEFING BY ZME. WE CALLED FSS TO QUESTION WX BECAUSE WE WERE FLYING OVER AN UNDERCAST THAT APPEARED TO COVER THE ARPT. WE GOT THE SAME RPT AS ABOVE. MEM WANTED US (CLRED US) FOR A VISUAL APCH. WHEN WE ASKED FOR A VECTOR TO AN ILS DUE TO WX, THE CTLR COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY. WE HAD TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT WE WERE ON TOP OF AN UNDERCAST WHILE FLYING AT 2700 FT MSL AND THE WX COVERED THE ARPT. HE SAID THAT HE CHKED WITH MSL FSS AND STILL GOT 25000 BROKEN. WE FINALLY CONVINCED HIM THAT WE WANTED TO FLY THE ILS 29 APCH AND HE VECTORED US ACCORDINGLY. DURING APCH, WX WAS OBSERVED AS TOPS 2200 MSL AND BASES 1700 MSL (1200 AGL) AND 2 1/2 MI VISIBILITY. AFTER RPTING THIS TO FSS, THEY CHANGED THEIR OBSERVATION. AFTER LNDG, MY DISCUSSION WITH FSS OPERATOR REVEALED THAT 'HE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE WX CHANGED.' THIS IS SECOND RPT TO YOU THIS YR ABOUT MSL FSS. THIS IS ALSO AN ACR ARPT. THERE HAS TO BE BETTER WAY TO GET ACCURATE WX TO THE FLCS.

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.