Narrative:

ATIS was reporting a scattered layer of clouds at 2800 ft. We had briefed the visual to runway 18L during descent. Approach told us to plan on runway 17, with the possibility of runway 18L. Shortly thereafter, we were given a heading that took us directly to dalty, the IAF to ILS runway 17. We were still above the scattered layer, and as there were a few clouds between us and the airport, I (PF) thought it might be tough to accept a visual approach. As soon as we descended below the clouds, it should be no problem. On a 45 degree heading to dalty and less than a mi, ATC asked us if we had the airport, and my first officer replied yes. ATC then cleared us for the visual to runway 17 and to maintain 3000 ft until ellan, then cross glosi at 2500 ft. As we leveled at 3000 ft, we were headed right for a cloud. We attempted to inform ATC that we could not maintain clear of the clouds with his 3000 ft restr, and advised we would need to deviate. As my first officer became involved in several xmissions with ATC, I deviated right off course, trying to maintain 3000 ft and remain clear of clouds. My necessary deviations almost took me to the runway 18L extended centerline, on which there was an aircraft on a visual to that runway. We had the aircraft in sight, and he was about 3 mi ahead and below us. No TCASII message was ever generated! ATC then cleared us to 2000 ft where we were then clear of clouds. Remainder of approach was uneventful.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B733 CREW ON A VISUAL APCH TO MCO WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CLR OF CLOUDS WITHOUT DEVIATING FROM ASSIGNED CLRNC.

Narrative: ATIS WAS RPTING A SCATTERED LAYER OF CLOUDS AT 2800 FT. WE HAD BRIEFED THE VISUAL TO RWY 18L DURING DSCNT. APCH TOLD US TO PLAN ON RWY 17, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF RWY 18L. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WERE GIVEN A HEADING THAT TOOK US DIRECTLY TO DALTY, THE IAF TO ILS RWY 17. WE WERE STILL ABOVE THE SCATTERED LAYER, AND AS THERE WERE A FEW CLOUDS BTWN US AND THE ARPT, I (PF) THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TOUGH TO ACCEPT A VISUAL APCH. AS SOON AS WE DSNDED BELOW THE CLOUDS, IT SHOULD BE NO PROB. ON A 45 DEG HEADING TO DALTY AND LESS THAN A MI, ATC ASKED US IF WE HAD THE ARPT, AND MY FO REPLIED YES. ATC THEN CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 17 AND TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL ELLAN, THEN CROSS GLOSI AT 2500 FT. AS WE LEVELED AT 3000 FT, WE WERE HEADED RIGHT FOR A CLOUD. WE ATTEMPTED TO INFORM ATC THAT WE COULD NOT MAINTAIN CLR OF THE CLOUDS WITH HIS 3000 FT RESTR, AND ADVISED WE WOULD NEED TO DEVIATE. AS MY FO BECAME INVOLVED IN SEVERAL XMISSIONS WITH ATC, I DEVIATED R OFF COURSE, TRYING TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT AND REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS. MY NECESSARY DEVS ALMOST TOOK ME TO THE RWY 18L EXTENDED CTRLINE, ON WHICH THERE WAS AN ACFT ON A VISUAL TO THAT RWY. WE HAD THE ACFT IN SIGHT, AND HE WAS ABOUT 3 MI AHEAD AND BELOW US. NO TCASII MESSAGE WAS EVER GENERATED! ATC THEN CLRED US TO 2000 FT WHERE WE WERE THEN CLR OF CLOUDS. REMAINDER OF APCH WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.