B737-300 flight crew is assigned a visual approach but flies briefly into clouds on descent.

Attributes
ACN	335969
Time
Date	199605
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2900 msl bound upper : 2900
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hou
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	335969
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Ceiling 3000 ft broken in hou. On left base, after vector to join hou runway 22 VOR DME final. Called field in sight, and approach turned us loose for a 'visual' approach. Was looking at field and inadvertently flew into cloud. In cloud for 10 seconds, during which time, I joined the VOR final and descended on approach segment. Broke out at 2900 ft AGL, and continued visually to field. Technically, I was operating on a 'visual' clearance for some 10 seconds in IMC conditions. I'm thinking this is not kosher, even though it was inadvertent. Thought I did the prudent, safe thing to descend from cloud on published approach segment to VMC conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLC IS ASSIGNED A VISUAL APCH BUT FLIES BRIEFLY INTO CLOUDS ON DSCNT.

Narrative: CEILING 3000 FT BROKEN IN HOU. ON L BASE, AFTER VECTOR TO JOIN HOU RWY 22 VOR DME FINAL. CALLED FIELD IN SIGHT, AND APCH TURNED US LOOSE FOR A 'VISUAL' APCH. WAS LOOKING AT FIELD AND INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO CLOUD. IN CLOUD FOR 10 SECONDS, DURING WHICH TIME, I JOINED THE VOR FINAL AND DSNDED ON APCH SEGMENT. BROKE OUT AT 2900 FT AGL, AND CONTINUED VISUALLY TO FIELD. TECHNICALLY, I WAS OPERATING ON A 'VISUAL' CLRNC FOR SOME 10 SECONDS IN IMC CONDITIONS. I'M THINKING THIS IS NOT KOSHER, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS INADVERTENT. THOUGHT I DID THE PRUDENT, SAFE THING TO DSND FROM CLOUD ON PUBLISHED APCH SEGMENT TO VMC 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.