Atx pilot makes approach landing takeoff with airport WX minimums for landing takeoff below chart re...

Attributes
ACN	233561
Time
Date	199302
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tup
State Reference	MS
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6200 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	233561
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

When I was about 30 mi south of tupelo, I called the airport in sight. ATC cleared me for a visual approach. The controller advised me that the control zone was IFR, so I told him I would need the ILS approach. About 3 mi or so out, just out of curiosity, I asked center for the tupelo observation since I had the airport in sight. Center advised me the WX was 1400 overcast and 3/8 mi visibility. Not registering that this was below minimums, I continued the approach. After I landed the airplane, I immediately departed, I thought about the observation I had received and called the FSS. They gave me the same observation. I realized then that I had not been given 5/8 but 3/8 from center and that 3/8 is less than 1/2. I made an honest mistake in thinking I heard 5/8 mi. I thought he had said 5/8 because the WX was so clear. In the future, I will make an effort to evaluate the values on visibility reports.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX PLT MAKES APCH LNDG TKOF WITH ARPT WX MINIMUMS FOR LNDG TKOF BELOW CHART REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: WHEN I WAS ABOUT 30 MI S OF TUPELO, I CALLED THE ARPT IN SIGHT. ATC CLRED ME FOR A VISUAL APCH. THE CTLR ADVISED ME THAT THE CTL ZONE WAS IFR, SO I TOLD HIM I WOULD NEED THE ILS APCH. ABOUT 3 MI OR SO OUT, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I ASKED CTR FOR THE TUPELO OBSERVATION SINCE I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. CTR ADVISED ME THE WX WAS 1400 OVCST AND 3/8 MI VISIBILITY. NOT REGISTERING THAT THIS WAS BELOW MINIMUMS, I CONTINUED THE APCH. AFTER I LANDED THE AIRPLANE, I IMMEDIATELY DEPARTED, I THOUGHT ABOUT THE OBSERVATION I HAD RECEIVED AND CALLED THE FSS. THEY GAVE ME THE SAME OBSERVATION. I REALIZED THEN THAT I HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN 5/8 BUT 3/8 FROM CTR AND THAT 3/8 IS LESS THAN 1/2. I MADE AN HONEST MISTAKE IN THINKING I HEARD 5/8 MI. I THOUGHT HE HAD SAID 5/8 BECAUSE THE WX WAS SO CLR. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL MAKE AN EFFORT TO EVALUATE THE VALUES ON VISIBILITY RPTS.

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.

Atx pilot makes approach landing takeoff with airport WX minimums for landing takeoff below chart requirements.