<< >> NASA ASRS Report 375532, July 1997

AWOS reporting inaccurate WX conditions. PIREP from departing aircraft reports ceiling 200-400 ft higher than AWOS report.

Attributes
ACN	375532
Time
Date	199707
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpb
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 7/8
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 350 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	365532
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While approaching hooper bay, ak, I obtained current AWOS information and learned the ceiling was reported as 400 ft overcast. The visibility was reported as 3 1/2 SM. I continued inbound and received a PIREP when I was 12 mi east. The pilot departing hooper bay airport reported the ceiling as 600-800 ft, with a visibility of 5-7 SM. I made my approach and landing, never descending below 500 ft AGL until on final. At no time did I go IMC. I maintained required altitude, visibility and cloud clearance. The purpose of this report is to identify an inaccurate AWOS and relieve myself of any possible enforcement action in the event any villager was monitoring AWOS and notified the FAA. To conclude, I would like to add that prior to my departure a few mins after landing, the AWOS was reporting the ceiling as 500 ft overcast and visibility of 3 1/2 SM.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AWOS RPTING INACCURATE WX CONDITIONS. PIREP FROM DEPARTING ACFT RPTS CEILING 200-400 FT HIGHER THAN AWOS RPT.

Narrative: WHILE APCHING HOOPER BAY, AK, I OBTAINED CURRENT AWOS INFO AND LEARNED THE CEILING WAS RPTED AS 400 FT OVCST. THE VISIBILITY WAS RPTED AS 3 1/2 SM. I CONTINUED INBOUND AND RECEIVED A PIREP WHEN I WAS 12 MI E. THE PLT DEPARTING HOOPER BAY ARPT RPTED THE CEILING AS 600-800 FT, WITH A VISIBILITY OF 5-7 SM. I MADE MY APCH AND LNDG, NEVER DSNDING BELOW 500 FT AGL UNTIL ON FINAL. AT NO TIME DID I GO IMC. I MAINTAINED REQUIRED ALT, VISIBILITY AND CLOUD CLRNC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS RPT IS TO IDENT AN INACCURATE AWOS AND RELIEVE MYSELF OF ANY POSSIBLE ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN THE EVENT ANY VILLAGER WAS MONITORING AWOS AND NOTIFIED THE FAA. TO CONCLUDE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT PRIOR TO MY DEP A FEW MINS AFTER LNDG, THE AWOS WAS RPTING THE CEILING AS 500 FT OVCST AND VISIBILITY OF 3 1/2 SM.

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.