A pilot approaching cec was denied an instrument approach by ATC because the AWOS system reported WX...

Attributes
ACN	798680
Time
Date	200808
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cec.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
ASRS Report	798680
Events
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Environmental Factor Airport ATC Human Performance Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

I was in VFR conditions. The ASOS at cec was calling 3/4 mi visibility; 100 ft ceiling. The ASOS is wrong a large amount of the time. It is by the beach end of the airport and fog covers it and the runway is open. I asked ZSE for an approach and was told it was too low and she was unable. I said the runway was open and; could I get the contact or a special in there? She said no. I then said again the runway is open and was told to squawk VFR 1200 have a good day. So I landed. This problem would be solved if the unicom or other live WX reporting was available there. A second ASOS at the other end of the runway would help. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that while the AWOS detection system may have been reporting accurate WX it is also notoriously inaccurate. In this case; the east end of the airport was VFR. The ATC controller's denial of an instrument approach several times led the reporter to cancel IFR and proceed VFR to land with no problem. The reporter suggested allowing an FBO or other on airport person to give WX advisories when the airport is manned.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PILOT APCHING CEC WAS DENIED AN INSTRUMENT APCH BY ATC BECAUSE THE AWOS SYSTEM REPORTED WX WAS BELOW MIN. THE ARPT WAS VFR SO THE REPORTER RPTR CANCELLED IFR AND LANDED.

Narrative: I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE ASOS AT CEC WAS CALLING 3/4 MI VISIBILITY; 100 FT CEILING. THE ASOS IS WRONG A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE TIME. IT IS BY THE BEACH END OF THE ARPT AND FOG COVERS IT AND THE RWY IS OPEN. I ASKED ZSE FOR AN APCH AND WAS TOLD IT WAS TOO LOW AND SHE WAS UNABLE. I SAID THE RWY WAS OPEN AND; COULD I GET THE CONTACT OR A SPECIAL IN THERE? SHE SAID NO. I THEN SAID AGAIN THE RWY IS OPEN AND WAS TOLD TO SQUAWK VFR 1200 HAVE A GOOD DAY. SO I LANDED. THIS PROB WOULD BE SOLVED IF THE UNICOM OR OTHER LIVE WX RPTING WAS AVAILABLE THERE. A SECOND ASOS AT THE OTHER END OF THE RWY WOULD HELP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT WHILE THE AWOS DETECTION SYSTEM MAY HAVE BEEN REPORTING ACCURATE WX IT IS ALSO NOTORIOUSLY INACCURATE. IN THIS CASE; THE EAST END OF THE ARPT WAS VFR. THE ATC CTLR'S DENIAL OF AN INSTRUMENT APCH SEVERAL TIMES LED THE REPORTER TO CANCEL IFR AND PROCEED VFR TO LAND WITH NO PROBLEM. THE REPORTER SUGGESTED ALLOWING AN FBO OR OTHER ON ARPT PERSON TO GIVE WX ADVISORIES WHEN THE ARPT IS MANNED.

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.

A pilot approaching cec was denied an instrument approach by ATC because the AWOS system reported WX was below min. The airport was VFR so the reporter reporter cancelled IFR and landed.