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.

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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.