Small aircraft descends below dead heading and lands with less than minimum visibility.

Attributes
ACN	122501
Time
Date	198909
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 370
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : clt artcc : zbw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	122501
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was being vectored for the ILS runway 36R, when the controller came on and said to change to runway 36L. The visibility was 1/2 mi in fog. This was good enough to make the approach to 36L. The RVR to runway 36L was 1200' I was rushed by the controller to make the approach to 36L, even though the minimum RVR was 1800'. I thought to myself that if I got to dead heading and had the required visibility I could land. It turned out that the runway was in sight at 2 mi out, so I commenced with the landing. I assumed that at the dead heading, if the runway is in sight, it is ok to land. There was no argumentative communication with the controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DESCENDS BELOW DEAD HEADING AND LANDS WITH LESS THAN MINIMUM VISIBILITY.

Narrative: I WAS BEING VECTORED FOR THE ILS RWY 36R, WHEN THE CTLR CAME ON AND SAID TO CHANGE TO RWY 36L. THE VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MI IN FOG. THIS WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE APCH TO 36L. THE RVR TO RWY 36L WAS 1200' I WAS RUSHED BY THE CTLR TO MAKE THE APCH TO 36L, EVEN THOUGH THE MINIMUM RVR WAS 1800'. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF THAT IF I GOT TO DEAD HDG AND HAD THE REQUIRED VISIBILITY I COULD LAND. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE RWY WAS IN SIGHT AT 2 MI OUT, SO I COMMENCED WITH THE LNDG. I ASSUMED THAT AT THE DEAD HDG, IF THE RWY IS IN SIGHT, IT IS OK TO LAND. THERE WAS NO ARGUMENTATIVE COM WITH THE CTLR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.