Narrative:

We were part 135 to slk. WX at slk: clear but 4 SM visibility with HZ. 20 mi out; we decided to do ILS. PF wanted to go direct to FAF and pick up ILS or visual from there. I suggested that we might not see the airport from there due to 4 SM visibility and suggested to go via slk VOR and pick up airport visually overhead or just fly the full ILS. Captain/PF agreed; so I received the following clearance; 'cleared for the ILS maintain 7000 ft until slk VOR.' at 15 NM from slk; PF acted nervous and said 'I don't see the airport! Cancel IFR; I want to go visual.' he started to descend immediately and I told him to wait and stay at 7000 ft until I got the clearance for a visual. I also told him that it was impossible to see the airport at 12.8 mi and due to 4 SM visibility at the airport. I called ATC to request the visual; but ATC was working 3 frequencys and did not respond. In the meantime; PF (was also PIC) and 8 yrs senior at the company and my age. He was also an ex-military pilot. His CRM skills were weak the previous few days. He finally got on the radio (after my second call to ATC) and insisted that ATC would answer. He also never leveled off and disregarded my input to do so. ATC responded to him in an irritable way that he was working 3 frequencys and cleared him for the visual. The reason I did not grab the flight controls from this PIC/PF: 1) I believe it would have become a 'fight' over the flight controls; and I did not want to put our passenger through that. They were very nervous flyers and I believe it could become dangerous. 2) I could see the terrain below us clearly and we had sufficient clearance. 3) I knew the area from previous trip and knew the terrain would get lower to the airport. I believe I made the correct decision doing it this way; however; we were at 6300 ft when we got the visual approach clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CE560 FLT CREW DEVIATES FROM CLRED ALTITUDE WHEN CAPT AND FO CONFLICT OVER ARRIVAL PREFERENCES.

Narrative: WE WERE PART 135 TO SLK. WX AT SLK: CLR BUT 4 SM VISIBILITY WITH HZ. 20 MI OUT; WE DECIDED TO DO ILS. PF WANTED TO GO DIRECT TO FAF AND PICK UP ILS OR VISUAL FROM THERE. I SUGGESTED THAT WE MIGHT NOT SEE THE ARPT FROM THERE DUE TO 4 SM VISIBILITY AND SUGGESTED TO GO VIA SLK VOR AND PICK UP ARPT VISUALLY OVERHEAD OR JUST FLY THE FULL ILS. CAPT/PF AGREED; SO I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC; 'CLRED FOR THE ILS MAINTAIN 7000 FT UNTIL SLK VOR.' AT 15 NM FROM SLK; PF ACTED NERVOUS AND SAID 'I DON'T SEE THE ARPT! CANCEL IFR; I WANT TO GO VISUAL.' HE STARTED TO DSND IMMEDIATELY AND I TOLD HIM TO WAIT AND STAY AT 7000 FT UNTIL I GOT THE CLRNC FOR A VISUAL. I ALSO TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ARPT AT 12.8 MI AND DUE TO 4 SM VISIBILITY AT THE ARPT. I CALLED ATC TO REQUEST THE VISUAL; BUT ATC WAS WORKING 3 FREQS AND DID NOT RESPOND. IN THE MEANTIME; PF (WAS ALSO PIC) AND 8 YRS SENIOR AT THE COMPANY AND MY AGE. HE WAS ALSO AN EX-MIL PLT. HIS CRM SKILLS WERE WEAK THE PREVIOUS FEW DAYS. HE FINALLY GOT ON THE RADIO (AFTER MY SECOND CALL TO ATC) AND INSISTED THAT ATC WOULD ANSWER. HE ALSO NEVER LEVELED OFF AND DISREGARDED MY INPUT TO DO SO. ATC RESPONDED TO HIM IN AN IRRITABLE WAY THAT HE WAS WORKING 3 FREQS AND CLRED HIM FOR THE VISUAL. THE REASON I DID NOT GRAB THE FLT CTLS FROM THIS PIC/PF: 1) I BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE BECOME A 'FIGHT' OVER THE FLT CTLS; AND I DID NOT WANT TO PUT OUR PAX THROUGH THAT. THEY WERE VERY NERVOUS FLYERS AND I BELIEVE IT COULD BECOME DANGEROUS. 2) I COULD SEE THE TERRAIN BELOW US CLEARLY AND WE HAD SUFFICIENT CLRNC. 3) I KNEW THE AREA FROM PREVIOUS TRIP AND KNEW THE TERRAIN WOULD GET LOWER TO THE ARPT. I BELIEVE I MADE THE CORRECT DECISION DOING IT THIS WAY; HOWEVER; WE WERE AT 6300 FT WHEN WE GOT THE VISUAL APCH CLRNC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.