An atx C208 used his cellular telephone to direct access the ASOS equipment and get WX information t...

Attributes
ACN	391530
Time
Date	199801
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eri
State Reference	PA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : eri
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller non radar : 13 controller radar : 24 controller supervisory : 2
ASRS Report	391530
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

A C208 was holding at IAF due to company requirements that approach cannot be conducted during freezing precipitation. Freezing rain was in progress and was in the official WX sequence, on ASOS. ASOS has a telephone access function that permits anyone to call the ASOS site. However, instead of receiving the official WX sequence, the ASOS broadcasts the current WX that is in the '1 min window.' this WX changes every min and is not the official WX. The pilot of the C208 in the hold, so as not to bother the busy controller calls the ASOS on his 'cell phone' and receives a '1 min window' observation which did not give freezing rain. He immediately advised the approach controller that he was ready for the approach clearance as the freezing rain had stopped. Approach advised that freezing rain was still in progress, tower confirmed but pilot insisted. Approach explained that the telephone was accessing 'current' sensor readings only. This feature of ASOS should only broadcast official WX.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX C208 USED HIS CELLULAR TELEPHONE TO DIRECT ACCESS THE ASOS EQUIP AND GET WX INFO THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO MAKE AN IFR APCH IN WX BELOW HIS COMPANY REQUIREMENTS. THE TWR CTLR ADVISED THE ACFT THAT THERE WAS STILL FREEZING RAIN, BUT PLT INSISTED ON MAKING THE APCH.

Narrative: A C208 WAS HOLDING AT IAF DUE TO COMPANY REQUIREMENTS THAT APCH CANNOT BE CONDUCTED DURING FREEZING PRECIPITATION. FREEZING RAIN WAS IN PROGRESS AND WAS IN THE OFFICIAL WX SEQUENCE, ON ASOS. ASOS HAS A TELEPHONE ACCESS FUNCTION THAT PERMITS ANYONE TO CALL THE ASOS SITE. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF RECEIVING THE OFFICIAL WX SEQUENCE, THE ASOS BROADCASTS THE CURRENT WX THAT IS IN THE '1 MIN WINDOW.' THIS WX CHANGES EVERY MIN AND IS NOT THE OFFICIAL WX. THE PLT OF THE C208 IN THE HOLD, SO AS NOT TO BOTHER THE BUSY CTLR CALLS THE ASOS ON HIS 'CELL PHONE' AND RECEIVES A '1 MIN WINDOW' OBSERVATION WHICH DID NOT GIVE FREEZING RAIN. HE IMMEDIATELY ADVISED THE APCH CTLR THAT HE WAS READY FOR THE APCH CLRNC AS THE FREEZING RAIN HAD STOPPED. APCH ADVISED THAT FREEZING RAIN WAS STILL IN PROGRESS, TWR CONFIRMED BUT PLT INSISTED. APCH EXPLAINED THAT THE TELEPHONE WAS ACCESSING 'CURRENT' SENSOR READINGS ONLY. THIS FEATURE OF ASOS SHOULD ONLY BROADCAST OFFICIAL WX.

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.