Mci controller described visual approach clearance issued to arrival air carrier during marginal WX ...

Attributes
ACN	731684
Time
Date	200703
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mci.airport
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl single value : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mci.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	controller radar : 22
ASRS Report	731684
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Visual approachs in use runways 1L and 1R at mci; approachs had been working well. Air carrier X came in over bqs for mci and requested runway 27. I was working east departure with arrival east and satellite north. I had around 7-12 aircraft in my airspace; showing 24 in my tab list. I keep air carrier X on arrival putting him on a 5 NM final; as aircraft got closer; pointed airport out; 'not in sight.' went to turn aircraft out for turn-on to runway 27 approach when he advised of a scud layer. Aircraft said he would continue on present heading to join final. Descended aircraft to MVA and pointed out airport; still not in sight. West controller had aircraft on final runway 1L; called tower to verify aircraft on runway 1L in sight. 'Yes.' air carrier X kept asking for lower; was unable prior. With tower advising runway 1C aircraft in sight; cleared air carrier X for approach to runway 27. Supervisor split position during or right after this. If we had known layer at airport would have been on ILS approachs. As I said before; my tab was above the 20 shown. Air carrier X accepted approach; but went around for ht; made left traffic with tower and landed runway 1L.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MCI CTLR DESCRIBED VISUAL APCH CLRNC ISSUED TO ARR ACR DURING MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS RESULTING IN GAR.

Narrative: VISUAL APCHS IN USE RWYS 1L AND 1R AT MCI; APCHS HAD BEEN WORKING WELL. ACR X CAME IN OVER BQS FOR MCI AND REQUESTED RWY 27. I WAS WORKING E DEP WITH ARR E AND SATELLITE N. I HAD AROUND 7-12 ACFT IN MY AIRSPACE; SHOWING 24 IN MY TAB LIST. I KEEP ACR X ON ARR PUTTING HIM ON A 5 NM FINAL; AS ACFT GOT CLOSER; POINTED ARPT OUT; 'NOT IN SIGHT.' WENT TO TURN ACFT OUT FOR TURN-ON TO RWY 27 APCH WHEN HE ADVISED OF A SCUD LAYER. ACFT SAID HE WOULD CONTINUE ON PRESENT HDG TO JOIN FINAL. DSNDED ACFT TO MVA AND POINTED OUT ARPT; STILL NOT IN SIGHT. W CTLR HAD ACFT ON FINAL RWY 1L; CALLED TWR TO VERIFY ACFT ON RWY 1L IN SIGHT. 'YES.' ACR X KEPT ASKING FOR LOWER; WAS UNABLE PRIOR. WITH TWR ADVISING RWY 1C ACFT IN SIGHT; CLRED ACR X FOR APCH TO RWY 27. SUPVR SPLIT POS DURING OR RIGHT AFTER THIS. IF WE HAD KNOWN LAYER AT ARPT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON ILS APCHS. AS I SAID BEFORE; MY TAB WAS ABOVE THE 20 SHOWN. ACR X ACCEPTED APCH; BUT WENT AROUND FOR HT; MADE L TFC WITH TWR AND LANDED RWY 1L.

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.

Mci controller described visual approach clearance issued to arrival air carrier during marginal WX conditions resulting in go around.