B737 crew experienced inappropriate ILS and light settings after the myr tower closed.

Attributes
ACN	452067
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : myr.airport
State Reference	SC
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	452067
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Navigational Facility FAA Airport Company
Primary Problem	Airport

Narrative:

Flight departed clt-myr with FMC inoperative arriving myr at approximately XB30 pm. Tower closes XB00 pm. Myr tower left ILS up on runway 17 with wind 320 degrees/16 KTS gusting 26 KTS and WX 800 ft overcast 5 mi visibility. This means tailwind required runway 35 and WX below circling minimums for air carrier fom. After holding 30 plus mins WX became 1000 ft overcast 10 mi visibility enabling us to shoot VOR approach and circle to runway 35. As we turned final we found runways lights off, and were unable to get them turned on by clicking microphone before having to circle again to realign up for landing. I feel the tower should remain open when a commercial flight is due in, but if that is not possible the ILS should be left up on the approach that favors the wind conditions when over 10 KTS tailwind is present. Also, the runway lights should be left on and should be programmed so they cannot be turned off, only changed to a different intensity.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW EXPERIENCED INAPPROPRIATE ILS AND LIGHT SETTINGS AFTER THE MYR TWR CLOSED.

Narrative: FLT DEPARTED CLT-MYR WITH FMC INOP ARRIVING MYR AT APPROX XB30 PM. TWR CLOSES XB00 PM. MYR TWR LEFT ILS UP ON RWY 17 WITH WIND 320 DEGS/16 KTS GUSTING 26 KTS AND WX 800 FT OVCST 5 MI VISIBILITY. THIS MEANS TAILWIND REQUIRED RWY 35 AND WX BELOW CIRCLING MINIMUMS FOR ACR FOM. AFTER HOLDING 30 PLUS MINS WX BECAME 1000 FT OVCST 10 MI VISIBILITY ENABLING US TO SHOOT VOR APCH AND CIRCLE TO RWY 35. AS WE TURNED FINAL WE FOUND RWYS LIGHTS OFF, AND WERE UNABLE TO GET THEM TURNED ON BY CLICKING MIKE BEFORE HAVING TO CIRCLE AGAIN TO REALIGN UP FOR LNDG. I FEEL THE TWR SHOULD REMAIN OPEN WHEN A COMMERCIAL FLT IS DUE IN, BUT IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE THE ILS SHOULD BE LEFT UP ON THE APCH THAT FAVORS THE WIND CONDITIONS WHEN OVER 10 KTS TAILWIND IS PRESENT. ALSO, THE RWY LIGHTS SHOULD BE LEFT ON AND SHOULD BE PROGRAMMED SO THEY CANNOT BE TURNED OFF, ONLY CHANGED TO A DIFFERENT INTENSITY.

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.