An air carrier medium large transport landed with a WX observation from an unqualified observer.

Attributes
ACN	269983
Time
Date	199404
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eug
State Reference	OR
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : eug
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	269983
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Due to a mechanical and a plane change, we arrived in eug after the tower closed. I had sent a question via ACARS to dispatch asking if the tower would still be open. They responded that eug operations would supply the required WX observation for landing. When I asked eug operations by radio for the needed WX observation, they responded with an abbreviated report. WX was not a factor and center cleared us for a visual approach. After landing, I located the ramp person who had given us the observation and discovered that she was not a certified WX observer. It is now apparent that we inadvertently violated far 121.165(B)(1) which requires a WX report from an approved source for approach and landing. I sent a report to the company and suggested that they remind all appropriate personnel at part time tower airports of the requirements of the above regulation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG LANDED WITH A WX OBSERVATION FROM AN UNQUALIFIED OBSERVER.

Narrative: DUE TO A MECHANICAL AND A PLANE CHANGE, WE ARRIVED IN EUG AFTER THE TWR CLOSED. I HAD SENT A QUESTION VIA ACARS TO DISPATCH ASKING IF THE TWR WOULD STILL BE OPEN. THEY RESPONDED THAT EUG OPS WOULD SUPPLY THE REQUIRED WX OBSERVATION FOR LNDG. WHEN I ASKED EUG OPS BY RADIO FOR THE NEEDED WX OBSERVATION, THEY RESPONDED WITH AN ABBREVIATED RPT. WX WAS NOT A FACTOR AND CTR CLRED US FOR A VISUAL APCH. AFTER LNDG, I LOCATED THE RAMP PERSON WHO HAD GIVEN US THE OBSERVATION AND DISCOVERED THAT SHE WAS NOT A CERTIFIED WX OBSERVER. IT IS NOW APPARENT THAT WE INADVERTENTLY VIOLATED FAR 121.165(B)(1) WHICH REQUIRES A WX RPT FROM AN APPROVED SOURCE FOR APCH AND LNDG. I SENT A RPT TO THE COMPANY AND SUGGESTED THAT THEY REMIND ALL APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL AT PART TIME TWR ARPTS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ABOVE REG.

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.