A C208 atx pilot performs an illegal contact approach from cll to cfd, tx.

Attributes
ACN	475536
Time
Date	200006
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cfd.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : contact
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 142 flight time total : 1621 flight time type : 88
ASRS Report	475536
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance FAA Airspace Structure Airport Weather Navigational Facility ATC Facility
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I fly for a part 135 cargo operation. The airport (cfd) that I normally fly into does not have an approved source of WX reporting therefore I cannot fly the instrument approach procedure for cfd, while under part 135, unless I can obtain a PIREP. In this situation, I normally fly an approach into cll airport on the other side of town. If the WX is good enough I will proceed visually to cfd after getting underneath at cll. On the morning in question, I flew the ILS runway 34 at cll and I then requested a contact approach into cfd from cll. This is an incorrect use of a contact approach. I had some trouble with ATC doing this and decided to check up again on the procedure. In the aim section 5-4-24 it states that a contact approach is not to be used to get underneath the ceiling at 1 airport and then proceed to another which is exactly what I did. A contact approach is basically a visual approach in less than VFR conditions executed by keeping 'contact' with terrain features to navigation to the airport. It can only be done at an airport that has an approved instrument approach procedure. There must be at least 1 mi visibility and the pilot must be able to maintain clear of clouds. The procedure is executed under IFR. Many other pilots that I have talked to have expressed a lack of understanding of what a contact approach is and how it should be properly executed. I believe that most pilots have an incomplete concept of what a contact approach is and how to do it. This is a procedure that should be better clarified to instrument pilots who may have need of it at some time. It is difficult to find clear information about contact approachs anywhere except the aim section mentioned above. More emphasis on the procedure in training would help.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C208 ATX PLT PERFORMS AN ILLEGAL CONTACT APCH FROM CLL TO CFD, TX.

Narrative: I FLY FOR A PART 135 CARGO OP. THE ARPT (CFD) THAT I NORMALLY FLY INTO DOES NOT HAVE AN APPROVED SOURCE OF WX RPTING THEREFORE I CANNOT FLY THE INST APCH PROC FOR CFD, WHILE UNDER PART 135, UNLESS I CAN OBTAIN A PIREP. IN THIS SIT, I NORMALLY FLY AN APCH INTO CLL ARPT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN. IF THE WX IS GOOD ENOUGH I WILL PROCEED VISUALLY TO CFD AFTER GETTING UNDERNEATH AT CLL. ON THE MORNING IN QUESTION, I FLEW THE ILS RWY 34 AT CLL AND I THEN REQUESTED A CONTACT APCH INTO CFD FROM CLL. THIS IS AN INCORRECT USE OF A CONTACT APCH. I HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH ATC DOING THIS AND DECIDED TO CHK UP AGAIN ON THE PROC. IN THE AIM SECTION 5-4-24 IT STATES THAT A CONTACT APCH IS NOT TO BE USED TO GET UNDERNEATH THE CEILING AT 1 ARPT AND THEN PROCEED TO ANOTHER WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID. A CONTACT APCH IS BASICALLY A VISUAL APCH IN LESS THAN VFR CONDITIONS EXECUTED BY KEEPING 'CONTACT' WITH TERRAIN FEATURES TO NAV TO THE ARPT. IT CAN ONLY BE DONE AT AN ARPT THAT HAS AN APPROVED INST APCH PROC. THERE MUST BE AT LEAST 1 MI VISIBILITY AND THE PLT MUST BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CLR OF CLOUDS. THE PROC IS EXECUTED UNDER IFR. MANY OTHER PLTS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE EXPRESSED A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A CONTACT APCH IS AND HOW IT SHOULD BE PROPERLY EXECUTED. I BELIEVE THAT MOST PLTS HAVE AN INCOMPLETE CONCEPT OF WHAT A CONTACT APCH IS AND HOW TO DO IT. THIS IS A PROC THAT SHOULD BE BETTER CLARIFIED TO INST PLTS WHO MAY HAVE NEED OF IT AT SOME TIME. IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND CLR INFO ABOUT CONTACT APCHS ANYWHERE EXCEPT THE AIM SECTION MENTIONED ABOVE. MORE EMPHASIS ON THE PROC IN TRAINING WOULD HELP.

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.