PA31 visual approach to tto passes through cloud.

Attributes
ACN	572099
Time
Date	200301
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ttd.airport
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 1920 flight time type : 210
ASRS Report	572099
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During a visual approach into ktto, in marginal VFR, conditions, I was maneuvering to land at the airport, when the aircraft inadvertently entered a cloud and lost visual reference to the ground. Shortly after, the airport came into view. I proceeded to land uneventfully. Factors during the approach were the marginal conditions at the time, and the nighttime hours making the clouds difficult to see and avoid. In retrospect, even though the airport was reporting VFR, the combination of marginal conditions and darkness made the visual approach not the best option for getting into the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 VISUAL APCH TO TTO PASSES THROUGH CLOUD.

Narrative: DURING A VISUAL APCH INTO KTTO, IN MARGINAL VFR, CONDITIONS, I WAS MANEUVERING TO LAND AT THE ARPT, WHEN THE ACFT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A CLOUD AND LOST VISUAL REF TO THE GND. SHORTLY AFTER, THE ARPT CAME INTO VIEW. I PROCEEDED TO LAND UNEVENTFULLY. FACTORS DURING THE APCH WERE THE MARGINAL CONDITIONS AT THE TIME, AND THE NIGHTTIME HRS MAKING THE CLOUDS DIFFICULT TO SEE AND AVOID. IN RETROSPECT, EVEN THOUGH THE ARPT WAS RPTING VFR, THE COMBINATION OF MARGINAL CONDITIONS AND DARKNESS MADE THE VISUAL APCH NOT THE BEST OPTION FOR GETTING INTO THE ARPT.

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.