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Captain of a DC8-71 diverted to alternate after being advised by approach and tower that the WX was below landing minimums.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 492980 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200011 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bro.airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl single value : 10000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : bro.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | DC-8 70 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 7200 flight time type : 2800 |
| ASRS Report | 492980 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other controllerb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : diverted to alternate |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Airspace Structure |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Before departure from lrd, I reviewed bro WX. The trend for the metars were improving at least 5 NM 300 ft overcast. En route, ATIS was received, at least 5 SM 300 ft overcast. ATC stated 'the airport was below landing minimums,' however a company aircraft just took off and reported a ceiling of at least 500 ft overcast. I continued towards bro not fully understanding how the airport was 'below landing minimums' with 5 mi of visibility. Tower, while being vectored, prior to being established on the localizer/back course, the tower stated 'you have already been advised the airport is below landing minimums, say intentions.' (WX remained at 5 mi 300 ft overcast.) at this point, I went missed approach and continued to my alternate. Our company operations manual clearly states that visibility is the only requirement needed for this approach not ceiling. Why was ATC thinking they were below landing minimums?
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CAPT OF A DC8-71 DIVERTED TO ALTERNATE AFTER BEING ADVISED BY APCH AND TWR THAT THE WX WAS BELOW LNDG MINIMUMS.
Narrative: BEFORE DEP FROM LRD, I REVIEWED BRO WX. THE TREND FOR THE METARS WERE IMPROVING AT LEAST 5 NM 300 FT OVCST. ENRTE, ATIS WAS RECEIVED, AT LEAST 5 SM 300 FT OVCST. ATC STATED 'THE ARPT WAS BELOW LNDG MINIMUMS,' HOWEVER A COMPANY ACFT JUST TOOK OFF AND RPTED A CEILING OF AT LEAST 500 FT OVCST. I CONTINUED TOWARDS BRO NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING HOW THE ARPT WAS 'BELOW LNDG MINIMUMS' WITH 5 MI OF VISIBILITY. TWR, WHILE BEING VECTORED, PRIOR TO BEING ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC/BACK COURSE, THE TWR STATED 'YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADVISED THE ARPT IS BELOW LNDG MINIMUMS, SAY INTENTIONS.' (WX REMAINED AT 5 MI 300 FT OVCST.) AT THIS POINT, I WENT MISSED APCH AND CONTINUED TO MY ALTERNATE. OUR COMPANY OPS MANUAL CLRLY STATES THAT VISIBILITY IS THE ONLY REQUIREMENT NEEDED FOR THIS APCH NOT CEILING. WHY WAS ATC THINKING THEY WERE BELOW LNDG MINIMUMS?
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.