Small transport freighter continues approach to landing below minimums due critical fuel state and a...

Attributes
ACN	132320
Time
Date	198912
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cec
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	132320
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
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:

Had WX of 200 1/2 (minimum) when I departed eka VFR. Eka was my alternate. Center gave me current WX of 200 1/2 mi and cleared me for an approach to cec. I was on the arc, just intercepting localizer, when ZSE handed me off to cec FSS. Instead of reporting FAF, I went ahead and called FSS, '(call sign) inbound on the localizer 11 out.' FSS reported WX as 200 1/4 (it had been moving around all morning). After 30 seconds or so of silence, I said 'ok.' I shot the approach (my home base) in flight visibility of 1/2-3/4. I landed, no sweat. I called my chief pilot and advised eka was marginal. With nowhere to go, plus minimum state of fuel, not good country to go hunting for a place to land with minimum fuel. Had I been past slam FAF, I would have no problem, but I feel my decision to continue was the safest and best call I could have made. My chief pilot agrees. I know what I did was not 'by the book,' but sometimes the rules need interpolation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT FREIGHTER CONTINUES APCH TO LNDG BELOW MINIMUMS DUE CRITICAL FUEL STATE AND ALTERNATE MARGINAL.

Narrative: HAD WX OF 200 1/2 (MINIMUM) WHEN I DEPARTED EKA VFR. EKA WAS MY ALTERNATE. CENTER GAVE ME CURRENT WX OF 200 1/2 MI AND CLRED ME FOR AN APCH TO CEC. I WAS ON THE ARC, JUST INTERCEPTING LOC, WHEN ZSE HANDED ME OFF TO CEC FSS. INSTEAD OF RPTING FAF, I WENT AHEAD AND CALLED FSS, '(CALL SIGN) INBND ON THE LOC 11 OUT.' FSS RPTED WX AS 200 1/4 (IT HAD BEEN MOVING AROUND ALL MORNING). AFTER 30 SECS OR SO OF SILENCE, I SAID 'OK.' I SHOT THE APCH (MY HOME BASE) IN FLT VISIBILITY OF 1/2-3/4. I LANDED, NO SWEAT. I CALLED MY CHIEF PLT AND ADVISED EKA WAS MARGINAL. WITH NOWHERE TO GO, PLUS MINIMUM STATE OF FUEL, NOT GOOD COUNTRY TO GO HUNTING FOR A PLACE TO LAND WITH MINIMUM FUEL. HAD I BEEN PAST SLAM FAF, I WOULD HAVE NO PROB, BUT I FEEL MY DECISION TO CONTINUE WAS THE SAFEST AND BEST CALL I COULD HAVE MADE. MY CHIEF PLT AGREES. I KNOW WHAT I DID WAS NOT 'BY THE BOOK,' BUT SOMETIMES THE RULES NEED INTERPOLATION.

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.

Small transport freighter continues approach to landing below minimums due critical fuel state and alternate marginal.