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An ASOS A02A WX report is not backed up by observer at ric airport. Air carrier PIC complaint of inaccurate ceiling in WX report.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 324575 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199512 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ric |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 512 agl bound upper : 512 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : ric |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Super 80 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach landing : missed approach |
| Route In Use | enroute other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| ASRS Report | 324575 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : unspecified |
| Publication | Unspecified |
Narrative:
Arrived at ric and was cleared for the VOR/DME approach to runway 20. The A02A WX at XA05 was reported as marginal 13 mi broken 25 mi overcast 2 mi, rain and fog. We missed the approach, still in the clouds at 512 ft AGL. There were scattered clouds below us as we made the missed approach. The time was about XA20Z. This automatic WX is worse than useless. Whoever was supposed to augment the automated observation was not very observant. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the WX report had been obtained on ACARS and included the notation, 'SA02' indicating that 'ric' airport had the availability of a qualified WX observer to make additions to the report if necessary. PIC did not ask the tower controller about the variation in the WX, ceiling reported as the flight was on a 'quick turn.' ATC did, however, change the approachs to an ILS from a VOR approach. Reporter's company has a copy of report but there was no feedback to reporter as yet. This was the first 'negative' experience reporter has had with the ASOS system.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN ASOS A02A WX RPT IS NOT BACKED UP BY OBSERVER AT RIC ARPT. ACR PIC COMPLAINT OF INACCURATE CEILING IN WX RPT.
Narrative: ARRIVED AT RIC AND WAS CLRED FOR THE VOR/DME APCH TO RWY 20. THE A02A WX AT XA05 WAS RPTED AS MARGINAL 13 MI BROKEN 25 MI OVCST 2 MI, RAIN AND FOG. WE MISSED THE APCH, STILL IN THE CLOUDS AT 512 FT AGL. THERE WERE SCATTERED CLOUDS BELOW US AS WE MADE THE MISSED APCH. THE TIME WAS ABOUT XA20Z. THIS AUTOMATIC WX IS WORSE THAN USELESS. WHOEVER WAS SUPPOSED TO AUGMENT THE AUTOMATED OBSERVATION WAS NOT VERY OBSERVANT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE WX RPT HAD BEEN OBTAINED ON ACARS AND INCLUDED THE NOTATION, 'SA02' INDICATING THAT 'RIC' ARPT HAD THE AVAILABILITY OF A QUALIFIED WX OBSERVER TO MAKE ADDITIONS TO THE RPT IF NECESSARY. PIC DID NOT ASK THE TWR CTLR ABOUT THE VARIATION IN THE WX, CEILING RPTED AS THE FLT WAS ON A 'QUICK TURN.' ATC DID, HOWEVER, CHANGE THE APCHS TO AN ILS FROM A VOR APCH. RPTR'S COMPANY HAS A COPY OF RPT BUT THERE WAS NO FEEDBACK TO RPTR AS YET. THIS WAS THE FIRST 'NEGATIVE' EXPERIENCE RPTR HAS HAD WITH THE ASOS SYS.
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.