Narrative:

Approach minimums during circling approach. During descent into hrl, captain advised me hrl WX was 1300 ft broken, 10 mi visibility. The NDB runway 17L circle runway 13 approach was in use. I briefed the approach and we both agreed on minimums. As we approached the FAF, the clouds appeared scattered, I thought we might get a visual. We configured for the approach and were ready for descent. Approach control called and told us new WX was 900 ft broken, 10 mi visibility. We continued and started a slow descent at FAF. At 1300 ft MSL we saw the airport and began to circle. We were cleared to land. After arriving at the gate, I wondered about the WX report approach control had given us. I listened to the new ATIS, which was approximately 10 mins old. It was reporting 900 scattered 1300 broken 10 mi visibility. I don't know if we misunderstood the controller or we circled with less than 1000 ft ceiling. In the future, I will make a better briefing including the ceiling and visibility requirements to start the approach. Also, if there is any question about a WX report, I will be sure to clarify.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR CREW QUESTIONS THE DECISION THEY MADE TO CONTINUE AN NDB APCH WITH A CIRCLE-TO-LAND CLRNC WHEN A CEILING OF LESS THAN THEIR COMPANY REQUIREMENT IS RPTED PRIOR TO THE FAF.

Narrative: APCH MINIMUMS DURING CIRCLING APCH. DURING DSCNT INTO HRL, CAPT ADVISED ME HRL WX WAS 1300 FT BROKEN, 10 MI VISIBILITY. THE NDB RWY 17L CIRCLE RWY 13 APCH WAS IN USE. I BRIEFED THE APCH AND WE BOTH AGREED ON MINIMUMS. AS WE APCHED THE FAF, THE CLOUDS APPEARED SCATTERED, I THOUGHT WE MIGHT GET A VISUAL. WE CONFIGURED FOR THE APCH AND WERE READY FOR DSCNT. APCH CTL CALLED AND TOLD US NEW WX WAS 900 FT BROKEN, 10 MI VISIBILITY. WE CONTINUED AND STARTED A SLOW DSCNT AT FAF. AT 1300 FT MSL WE SAW THE ARPT AND BEGAN TO CIRCLE. WE WERE CLRED TO LAND. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE GATE, I WONDERED ABOUT THE WX RPT APCH CTL HAD GIVEN US. I LISTENED TO THE NEW ATIS, WHICH WAS APPROX 10 MINS OLD. IT WAS RPTING 900 SCATTERED 1300 BROKEN 10 MI VISIBILITY. I DON'T KNOW IF WE MISUNDERSTOOD THE CTLR OR WE CIRCLED WITH LESS THAN 1000 FT CEILING. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL MAKE A BETTER BRIEFING INCLUDING THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO START THE APCH. ALSO, IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION ABOUT A WX RPT, I WILL BE SURE TO CLARIFY.

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.