Pilot feels pressured to take a visual approach when WX is still a factor.

Attributes
ACN	467680
Time
Date	200003
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : rdu.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	467680
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

In sum: reporter was apparently expecting a VOR approach to runway 32 at rdu, nc. Tower asked if he wanted a visual approach, which he declined as he was in IMC. He was then cleared to descend to 1700 ft and tower asked if he had airport in sight. Once again he reported in IMC. At this point he advised tower that field was in sight but he was too close to land. He received no answer. Second try was successful and tower asked if reporter had received tower's transmission. He had not. Ending the confusion reporter received clearance to circle to land. Reporter says that he should not have been cleared for a visual approach with the WX conditions as they were.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT FEELS PRESSURED TO TAKE A VISUAL APCH WHEN WX IS STILL A FACTOR.

Narrative: IN SUM: RPTR WAS APPARENTLY EXPECTING A VOR APCH TO RWY 32 AT RDU, NC. TWR ASKED IF HE WANTED A VISUAL APCH, WHICH HE DECLINED AS HE WAS IN IMC. HE WAS THEN CLRED TO DSND TO 1700 FT AND TWR ASKED IF HE HAD ARPT IN SIGHT. ONCE AGAIN HE RPTED IN IMC. AT THIS POINT HE ADVISED TWR THAT FIELD WAS IN SIGHT BUT HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO LAND. HE RECEIVED NO ANSWER. SECOND TRY WAS SUCCESSFUL AND TWR ASKED IF RPTR HAD RECEIVED TWR'S XMISSION. HE HAD NOT. ENDING THE CONFUSION RPTR RECEIVED CLRNC TO CIRCLE TO LAND. RPTR SAYS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH WITH THE WX CONDITIONS AS THEY WERE.

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.