BE1900 flight crew concerned with visual approach being issued after reporting field in sight.

Attributes
ACN	557408
Time
Date	200208
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : duj.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	557408
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Inbound to duj, severe WX protruded north of the field with intense lighting. On a vector for an ILS, on the downwind leg, first officer reported the airport in sight. Center replied 'roger, cleared for the visual approach.' we then proceeded inbound and landed. I assumed being cleared for an approach meant all requirements were met for that approach. Upon further investigation, I found that ATC is not responsible for determining what type of approach can be flown, or if it is the proper approach for the WX. We did not request a visual approach and do not recall what the WX was at the time of the approach because our concentration was on WX. The visibility was variable, up and down, and we were 5-8 mi out when the field was in sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE1900 FLC CONCERNED WITH VISUAL APCH BEING ISSUED AFTER RPTING FIELD IN SIGHT.

Narrative: INBOUND TO DUJ, SEVERE WX PROTRUDED N OF THE FIELD WITH INTENSE LIGHTING. ON A VECTOR FOR AN ILS, ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, FO RPTED THE ARPT IN SIGHT. CTR REPLIED 'ROGER, CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH.' WE THEN PROCEEDED INBOUND AND LANDED. I ASSUMED BEING CLRED FOR AN APCH MEANT ALL REQUIREMENTS WERE MET FOR THAT APCH. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT ATC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING WHAT TYPE OF APCH CAN BE FLOWN, OR IF IT IS THE PROPER APCH FOR THE WX. WE DID NOT REQUEST A VISUAL APCH AND DO NOT RECALL WHAT THE WX WAS AT THE TIME OF THE APCH BECAUSE OUR CONCENTRATION WAS ON WX. THE VISIBILITY WAS VARIABLE, UP AND DOWN, AND WE WERE 5-8 MI OUT WHEN THE FIELD WAS IN SIGHT.

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.