Narrative:

I checked the WX for a planned VFR trip through lake clark pass to port alsworth from anchorage. As part of my preparation; I talked with the pilot of a twin navajo who had gone from port alsworth to anchorage. He reported fairly good VFR conditions en route. I was aware of a front moving through bristol bay with the WX trending down. When we left merrill field; we had WX for port alsworth showing 2000 ft ceiling and 5 mi visibility. I was able to circle up and go into the pass at 6500 ft and began a gradual descent about 1/2 way through the pass. Over the upper end of lake clark; the conditions were approximately 3500 ft broken and 7 mi in light snow. Continuing toward port alsworth; I flew down the southeast side of lake clark to port alsworth in deteriorating WX. While we still had appropriate vertical visibility; approximately 500-600 ft AGL on long final; the forward visibility degenerated rapidly down to less than 2 mi on final onto runway 23L port alsworth. Port alsworth reporting station cannot issue specials of changing WX and the forecast did not portray; nor represent the WX changes that were taking place as we were en route to port alsworth. While the flight was routine we realized the need for 'specials' and quicker updates on current conditions. A capstone project for the lake county air taxies would greatly enhance our ability to operate with knowledge and safety.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF C208 CONTINUES FLT TO LNDG AT PVT ARPT IN ALASKA DESPITE DETERIORATING VISIBILITY AND CEILING.

Narrative: I CHKED THE WX FOR A PLANNED VFR TRIP THROUGH LAKE CLARK PASS TO PORT ALSWORTH FROM ANCHORAGE. AS PART OF MY PREPARATION; I TALKED WITH THE PLT OF A TWIN NAVAJO WHO HAD GONE FROM PORT ALSWORTH TO ANCHORAGE. HE RPTED FAIRLY GOOD VFR CONDITIONS ENRTE. I WAS AWARE OF A FRONT MOVING THROUGH BRISTOL BAY WITH THE WX TRENDING DOWN. WHEN WE LEFT MERRILL FIELD; WE HAD WX FOR PORT ALSWORTH SHOWING 2000 FT CEILING AND 5 MI VISIBILITY. I WAS ABLE TO CIRCLE UP AND GO INTO THE PASS AT 6500 FT AND BEGAN A GRADUAL DSCNT ABOUT 1/2 WAY THROUGH THE PASS. OVER THE UPPER END OF LAKE CLARK; THE CONDITIONS WERE APPROX 3500 FT BROKEN AND 7 MI IN LIGHT SNOW. CONTINUING TOWARD PORT ALSWORTH; I FLEW DOWN THE SE SIDE OF LAKE CLARK TO PORT ALSWORTH IN DETERIORATING WX. WHILE WE STILL HAD APPROPRIATE VERT VISIBILITY; APPROX 500-600 FT AGL ON LONG FINAL; THE FORWARD VISIBILITY DEGENERATED RAPIDLY DOWN TO LESS THAN 2 MI ON FINAL ONTO RWY 23L PORT ALSWORTH. PORT ALSWORTH RPTING STATION CANNOT ISSUE SPECIALS OF CHANGING WX AND THE FORECAST DID NOT PORTRAY; NOR REPRESENT THE WX CHANGES THAT WERE TAKING PLACE AS WE WERE ENRTE TO PORT ALSWORTH. WHILE THE FLT WAS ROUTINE WE REALIZED THE NEED FOR 'SPECIALS' AND QUICKER UPDATES ON CURRENT CONDITIONS. A CAPSTONE PROJECT FOR THE LAKE COUNTY AIR TAXIES WOULD GREATLY ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO OPERATE WITH KNOWLEDGE AND SAFETY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.