Narrative:

Dispatched to psp with WX showing VFR, i.e., 5000 broken 10 mi visibility. However, sequence we showed similar WX but only a temperature, no dewpoint. Arrived at psp with fuel of 45 mins plus enough for 2 approachs. However, low clouds and fog moved in just south of airport, not enough to obscure airport completely. First visual approach to runway 30 was obstructed with clouds. Missed approach and attempted circle to runway 12, however, similar conditions caused another missed approach. Third attempt with a VOR approach with a haa of about 1200 ft AGL was just barely adequate for arrival. Recommendation: current requirements require an alternate to be named for any destination that doesn't have an instrument approach procedure. I feel, however, that altitude still be required when that approach procedure has an haa/hat of higher than 800 ft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FO COMPLAINT ABOUT DISPATCH TO PSP WITHOUT AN ALTERNATE.

Narrative: DISPATCHED TO PSP WITH WX SHOWING VFR, I.E., 5000 BROKEN 10 MI VISIBILITY. HOWEVER, SEQUENCE WE SHOWED SIMILAR WX BUT ONLY A TEMP, NO DEWPOINT. ARRIVED AT PSP WITH FUEL OF 45 MINS PLUS ENOUGH FOR 2 APCHS. HOWEVER, LOW CLOUDS AND FOG MOVED IN JUST S OF ARPT, NOT ENOUGH TO OBSCURE ARPT COMPLETELY. FIRST VISUAL APCH TO RWY 30 WAS OBSTRUCTED WITH CLOUDS. MISSED APCH AND ATTEMPTED CIRCLE TO RWY 12, HOWEVER, SIMILAR CONDITIONS CAUSED ANOTHER MISSED APCH. THIRD ATTEMPT WITH A VOR APCH WITH A HAA OF ABOUT 1200 FT AGL WAS JUST BARELY ADEQUATE FOR ARR. RECOMMENDATION: CURRENT REQUIREMENTS REQUIRE AN ALTERNATE TO BE NAMED FOR ANY DEST THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN INST APCH PROC. I FEEL, HOWEVER, THAT ALT STILL BE REQUIRED WHEN THAT APCH PROC HAS AN HAA/HAT OF HIGHER THAN 800 FT.

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