Cpr small transport made several visual approach missed approach due to WX at airport.

Attributes
ACN	311580
Time
Date	199507
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ezf
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	311580
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

As we approached ezf airport, WX conditions were good, except for small areas of fog in a few areas. Visual contact was made with the airport but we were not certain that a landing could be made VFR. I requested a cruise clearance to maneuver the aircraft for landing. The request was denied and the controller explained that a course clearance was not a clearance to make an approach. To save confusion we asked for a visual approach since we were VFR conditions and the runway was in sight. After descending to 2500 ft MSL we determined that a small area of fog was covering part of the runway. Missed approach was made and we proceeded to richmond, va. After reviewing the far's, I feel the controller was in error for not issuing the clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR SMT MADE SEVERAL VISUAL APCH MISSED APCH DUE TO WX AT ARPT.

Narrative: AS WE APCHED EZF ARPT, WX CONDITIONS WERE GOOD, EXCEPT FOR SMALL AREAS OF FOG IN A FEW AREAS. VISUAL CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE ARPT BUT WE WERE NOT CERTAIN THAT A LNDG COULD BE MADE VFR. I REQUESTED A CRUISE CLRNC TO MANEUVER THE ACFT FOR LNDG. THE REQUEST WAS DENIED AND THE CTLR EXPLAINED THAT A COURSE CLRNC WAS NOT A CLRNC TO MAKE AN APCH. TO SAVE CONFUSION WE ASKED FOR A VISUAL APCH SINCE WE WERE VFR CONDITIONS AND THE RWY WAS IN SIGHT. AFTER DSNDING TO 2500 FT MSL WE DETERMINED THAT A SMALL AREA OF FOG WAS COVERING PART OF THE RWY. MISSED APCH WAS MADE AND WE PROCEEDED TO RICHMOND, VA. AFTER REVIEWING THE FAR'S, I FEEL THE CTLR WAS IN ERROR FOR NOT ISSUING THE CLRNC.

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.