WX reporting equipment ASOS reported inaccurate WX.

Attributes
ACN	306622
Time
Date	199506
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dab
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	306622
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The ASOS at dab airport was commissioned on jun/thu/95. We have had numerous incidents at the ASOS reporting 'clear below 120' when the WX was much worse. This particular incident on jun/thu/95 at XA44Z, 2 PIREPS put the ceiling at 3 scattered to broken and 3 broken to overcast while the ASOS continued to report 'clear below 120.' we (tower) had NWS office at dab do an observation, it came out XA50Z east 5 broken. The ASOS is not able to keep up with changing WX conditions. In this case VFR pilot encountered IMC WX conditions due to this lack of timely WX updates. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated there have been numerous incidents of inaccurate WX reported by ASOS since it was commissioned. NWS WX observers have been augmenting the system but will be leaving shortly because NWS is closing the facility.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WX RPTING EQUIP ASOS RPTED INACCURATE WX.

Narrative: THE ASOS AT DAB ARPT WAS COMMISSIONED ON JUN/THU/95. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS AT THE ASOS RPTING 'CLR BELOW 120' WHEN THE WX WAS MUCH WORSE. THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT ON JUN/THU/95 AT XA44Z, 2 PIREPS PUT THE CEILING AT 3 SCATTERED TO BROKEN AND 3 BROKEN TO OVCST WHILE THE ASOS CONTINUED TO RPT 'CLR BELOW 120.' WE (TWR) HAD NWS OFFICE AT DAB DO AN OBSERVATION, IT CAME OUT XA50Z E 5 BROKEN. THE ASOS IS NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH CHANGING WX CONDITIONS. IN THIS CASE VFR PLT ENCOUNTERED IMC WX CONDITIONS DUE TO THIS LACK OF TIMELY WX UPDATES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF INACCURATE WX RPTED BY ASOS SINCE IT WAS COMMISSIONED. NWS WX OBSERVERS HAVE BEEN AUGMENTING THE SYS BUT WILL BE LEAVING SHORTLY BECAUSE NWS IS CLOSING THE FACILITY.

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.