Approach in low visibility. Circling approach below minimums.

Attributes
ACN	319425
Time
Date	199510
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hgr
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hgr
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8500
ASRS Report	319425
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

As we joined the inbound course and changed to tower, we had the west end of the landing runway in sight along with most of the airport. Very localized fog bank obscured the approach end to runway 27. I advised tower we would break right for a left downwind to runway 9. This was approved and we were cleared to land (ILS runway 27). At 2000 ft MSL, we reported we were breaking off the approach and were proceeding as requested with the runway clearly in sight. We landed and stopped before the fog bank. However tower asked us to advise when we were clear of the runway. I noticed the top of the control tower had fog only on its s-side. Being part 135, I should have requested a contact approach or canceled IFR and requested a special VFR. For alignment and terrain clearance, having part of the runway in sight, I continued on the vector and the approach. The safer however not allowed by part 135, which I didn't realize until after the landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH IN LOW VISIBILITY. CIRCLING APCH BELOW MINIMUMS.

Narrative: AS WE JOINED THE INBOUND COURSE AND CHANGED TO TWR, WE HAD THE W END OF THE LNDG RWY IN SIGHT ALONG WITH MOST OF THE ARPT. VERY LOCALIZED FOG BANK OBSCURED THE APCH END TO RWY 27. I ADVISED TWR WE WOULD BREAK R FOR A L DOWNWIND TO RWY 9. THIS WAS APPROVED AND WE WERE CLRED TO LAND (ILS RWY 27). AT 2000 FT MSL, WE RPTED WE WERE BREAKING OFF THE APCH AND WERE PROCEEDING AS REQUESTED WITH THE RWY CLRLY IN SIGHT. WE LANDED AND STOPPED BEFORE THE FOG BANK. HOWEVER TWR ASKED US TO ADVISE WHEN WE WERE CLR OF THE RWY. I NOTICED THE TOP OF THE CTL TWR HAD FOG ONLY ON ITS S-SIDE. BEING PART 135, I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED A CONTACT APCH OR CANCELED IFR AND REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR. FOR ALIGNMENT AND TERRAIN CLRNC, HAVING PART OF THE RWY IN SIGHT, I CONTINUED ON THE VECTOR AND THE APCH. THE SAFER HOWEVER NOT ALLOWED BY PART 135, WHICH I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL AFTER THE LNDG.

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.