Narrative:

On approach to dfw runway 35C, 20 mi final, many thunderstorms in area. We noticed a countering cell (red) and attenuating ground clutter behind it (shadowing), probably level 5 (a killer thunderstorm according the WX radar expert). The cell was over the airport and on the localizer for runway 35C. The approach controller told us there were airplanes on approach ahead of us, smooth ride, moderate to heavy precipitation. My captain decided to discontinue the approach (to my concurrence). The airplane behind us (I think a company air carrier, a female voice) asked about airplanes ahead of her. The approach controller gave her the same report as to us and also added, nobody has been going around. I think this was highly misleading and inaccurate. He did not mention that we just discontinued the approach on 15 mi final. She later asked where the WX was. His response was 'I've already told you.' I compliment her for not being pressured. She responded, 'then tell me again.' he did, but I do not think he gave any information on location or cell intensity. About 3 or 4 mins later, either this approach controller or the next approach controller we were handed off to reported 'microburst on runway 35C, runway 36L still good.' we declined runway 36L. The ACARS WX and ATIS showed thunderstorms in dfw, but approach gave no mention of thunderstorms -- only precipitation. I felt the approach controllers were withholding information, and providing misleading information and pressuring pilots to continue the approach. I believe we were the first to divert in this series of approachs being made. My fear is that there were others out there who should have, but were pressured into continuing. When the microburst report was given, we would have been on short final for the same runway. I compliment my captain, for being a captain, and not being pressured to continue the approach (in what I consider a potentially hazardous situation) -- even though it was not the politically correct thing to do.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MD80 FLC RPT RECEIVING UNDUE PRESSURE FROM AN APCH CTLR TO CONTINUE AN APCH INTO SEVERE TSTMS. THE RPTR ALSO FEELS THAT MISLEADING AND INCOMPLETE INFO WAS GIVEN TO OTHER ACFT IN THE AREA IN AN EFFORT TO GET THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR APCHS.

Narrative: ON APCH TO DFW RWY 35C, 20 MI FINAL, MANY TSTMS IN AREA. WE NOTICED A COUNTERING CELL (RED) AND ATTENUATING GND CLUTTER BEHIND IT (SHADOWING), PROBABLY LEVEL 5 (A KILLER TSTM ACCORDING THE WX RADAR EXPERT). THE CELL WAS OVER THE ARPT AND ON THE LOC FOR RWY 35C. THE APCH CTLR TOLD US THERE WERE AIRPLANES ON APCH AHEAD OF US, SMOOTH RIDE, MODERATE TO HVY PRECIP. MY CAPT DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE THE APCH (TO MY CONCURRENCE). THE AIRPLANE BEHIND US (I THINK A COMPANY ACR, A FEMALE VOICE) ASKED ABOUT AIRPLANES AHEAD OF HER. THE APCH CTLR GAVE HER THE SAME RPT AS TO US AND ALSO ADDED, NOBODY HAS BEEN GOING AROUND. I THINK THIS WAS HIGHLY MISLEADING AND INACCURATE. HE DID NOT MENTION THAT WE JUST DISCONTINUED THE APCH ON 15 MI FINAL. SHE LATER ASKED WHERE THE WX WAS. HIS RESPONSE WAS 'I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU.' I COMPLIMENT HER FOR NOT BEING PRESSURED. SHE RESPONDED, 'THEN TELL ME AGAIN.' HE DID, BUT I DO NOT THINK HE GAVE ANY INFO ON LOCATION OR CELL INTENSITY. ABOUT 3 OR 4 MINS LATER, EITHER THIS APCH CTLR OR THE NEXT APCH CTLR WE WERE HANDED OFF TO RPTED 'MICROBURST ON RWY 35C, RWY 36L STILL GOOD.' WE DECLINED RWY 36L. THE ACARS WX AND ATIS SHOWED TSTMS IN DFW, BUT APCH GAVE NO MENTION OF TSTMS -- ONLY PRECIP. I FELT THE APCH CTLRS WERE WITHHOLDING INFO, AND PROVIDING MISLEADING INFO AND PRESSURING PLTS TO CONTINUE THE APCH. I BELIEVE WE WERE THE FIRST TO DIVERT IN THIS SERIES OF APCHS BEING MADE. MY FEAR IS THAT THERE WERE OTHERS OUT THERE WHO SHOULD HAVE, BUT WERE PRESSURED INTO CONTINUING. WHEN THE MICROBURST RPT WAS GIVEN, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON SHORT FINAL FOR THE SAME RWY. I COMPLIMENT MY CAPT, FOR BEING A CAPT, AND NOT BEING PRESSURED TO CONTINUE THE APCH (IN WHAT I CONSIDER A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SIT) -- EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT THE POLITICALLY CORRECT THING TO DO.

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.