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C560XL flight crew deviates and descends below the MVA during a VFR in IMC flight on a visual approach to 4a6.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 639703 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200411 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | AL |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2700 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : ztl.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Citation Excel |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival : vfr |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 500 |
| ASRS Report | 639703 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Reporter, PNF (type rated) and PIC departed oma 2 hours late due to needed maintenance required overlooked by PIC. Destination 4a6 is VFR only airport, which we have been to many times. Surrounding WX reports indicated 50% chance we could make VFR approach. PIC filed and briefed alternate (hsv) would be utilized if 4a6 not in sight at ar at MVA. En route we encountered thunderstorms and lightning. Lost heading on #2 pfd. Recovered with reversion descent brief. PIC advised would go to hsv if 4a6 not VFR upon arrival. PIC requested I advise ATC (ZTL) we would go to hsv if 4a6 not VFR. At 4a6 we were between layers. PIC requested direct hsv. Reported then had ground contact. PIC requested return to 4a6. ATC cleared us back to 4a6. PIC requested help with FMS and requested descent. ATC cleared us to descend. I programmed FMS direct 4a6, looked up and saw us in solid IMC descending through 2700 ft. Called out '1000 ft below MVA, climb.' repeated climb 2 more times. Response, 'ok' or 'it's ok.' we broke out about 1500 ft to 1000 ft AGL and landed on wet runway. PIC advised no problem, he knew area -- 2000 ft MSL was safe. He had flown approach before to nearby airport to 500 ft AGL and then flew 'VFR' to 4a6. I advised this was not safe, not legal, not what I wanted to do. Reported incident to company management and to charter company who we do part 135 work for. Uncertain future of captain, PIC, or reporter with operator. Believe PIC felt compelled to get 6 passenger to det at any cost since he caused the 2 hour departure delay.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C560XL FLT CREW DEVIATES AND DSNDS BELOW THE MVA DURING A VFR IN IMC FLT ON A VISUAL APCH TO 4A6.
Narrative: RPTR, PNF (TYPE RATED) AND PIC DEPARTED OMA 2 HRS LATE DUE TO NEEDED MAINT REQUIRED OVERLOOKED BY PIC. DEST 4A6 IS VFR ONLY ARPT, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TO MANY TIMES. SURROUNDING WX RPTS INDICATED 50% CHANCE WE COULD MAKE VFR APCH. PIC FILED AND BRIEFED ALTERNATE (HSV) WOULD BE UTILIZED IF 4A6 NOT IN SIGHT AT AR AT MVA. ENRTE WE ENCOUNTERED TSTMS AND LIGHTNING. LOST HDG ON #2 PFD. RECOVERED WITH REVERSION DSCNT BRIEF. PIC ADVISED WOULD GO TO HSV IF 4A6 NOT VFR UPON ARR. PIC REQUESTED I ADVISE ATC (ZTL) WE WOULD GO TO HSV IF 4A6 NOT VFR. AT 4A6 WE WERE BTWN LAYERS. PIC REQUESTED DIRECT HSV. RPTED THEN HAD GND CONTACT. PIC REQUESTED RETURN TO 4A6. ATC CLRED US BACK TO 4A6. PIC REQUESTED HELP WITH FMS AND REQUESTED DSCNT. ATC CLRED US TO DSND. I PROGRAMMED FMS DIRECT 4A6, LOOKED UP AND SAW US IN SOLID IMC DSNDING THROUGH 2700 FT. CALLED OUT '1000 FT BELOW MVA, CLB.' REPEATED CLB 2 MORE TIMES. RESPONSE, 'OK' OR 'IT'S OK.' WE BROKE OUT ABOUT 1500 FT TO 1000 FT AGL AND LANDED ON WET RWY. PIC ADVISED NO PROB, HE KNEW AREA -- 2000 FT MSL WAS SAFE. HE HAD FLOWN APCH BEFORE TO NEARBY ARPT TO 500 FT AGL AND THEN FLEW 'VFR' TO 4A6. I ADVISED THIS WAS NOT SAFE, NOT LEGAL, NOT WHAT I WANTED TO DO. RPTED INCIDENT TO COMPANY MGMNT AND TO CHARTER COMPANY WHO WE DO PART 135 WORK FOR. UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF CAPT, PIC, OR RPTR WITH OPERATOR. BELIEVE PIC FELT COMPELLED TO GET 6 PAX TO DET AT ANY COST SINCE HE CAUSED THE 2 HR DEP DELAY.
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.