Narrative:

We flew to pt lay; ak; the en route was clear. As we were 10 miles out; we had ascertained the visibility had dropped to one mile; the AWOS was out of service. As we neared the airport; we could see the runway; the large radar site; and hangar off the end of the runway. We entered a left downwind for runway 05. We maintained a visual on the runway from downwind to base. As we turned final we decided that the flight visibility at a lower altitude would be lower than VFR minimums; and did not land or descend any further. We were not at any time in the clouds. We had remained VFR entirely. Recommendation: pt lay has 2 AWOS systems that don't work. They also have an NDB approach that still isn't certified. The worst WX on the north slope can be in pt lay. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the two reported AWOS systems are not available. One is inoperative and the other is reported in a test status. Personnel on the ground are used for visibility reports based on predetermined landmarks but they are not qualified WX observers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARRIVING AT PIZ ON A VFR FLT PLAN; DETERIORATING WX IS ENCOUNTERED ONCE IN THE TFC PATTERN SO A DIVERSION WAS MADE.

Narrative: WE FLEW TO PT LAY; AK; THE ENRTE WAS CLR. AS WE WERE 10 MILES OUT; WE HAD ASCERTAINED THE VISIBILITY HAD DROPPED TO ONE MILE; THE AWOS WAS OUT OF SVC. AS WE NEARED THE ARPT; WE COULD SEE THE RWY; THE LARGE RADAR SITE; AND HANGAR OFF THE END OF THE RWY. WE ENTERED A L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 05. WE MAINTAINED A VISUAL ON THE RWY FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE. AS WE TURNED FINAL WE DECIDED THAT THE FLT VISIBILITY AT A LOWER ALT WOULD BE LOWER THAN VFR MINIMUMS; AND DID NOT LAND OR DSND ANY FURTHER. WE WERE NOT AT ANY TIME IN THE CLOUDS. WE HAD REMAINED VFR ENTIRELY. RECOMMENDATION: PT LAY HAS 2 AWOS SYSTEMS THAT DON'T WORK. THEY ALSO HAVE AN NDB APCH THAT STILL ISN'T CERTIFIED. THE WORST WX ON THE NORTH SLOPE CAN BE IN PT LAY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE TWO RPTED AWOS SYSTEMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ONE IS INOP AND THE OTHER IS RPTED IN A TEST STATUS. PERSONNEL ON THE GND ARE USED FOR VISIBILITY RPTS BASED ON PREDETERMINED LANDMARKS BUT THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED WX OBSERVERS.

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.