Narrative:

Dispatched from ord to cmi with alternate of evv. En route to cmi, WX dropped below approach minimums. Entered hold at LOM at cmi and contacted dispatch by radio. Dispatch had us hold for 30 mins to see if WX would improve, then decided to send us to spi. Dispatch rereleased to spi with evv as alternate. New fuel figures with current and forecast WX for spi given. Spi was currently 200 ft overcast, 3/4 mi visibility. Left hold and proceeded toward spi and obtained ATIS information of currently 200 ft overcast, 1/2 mi fog. Being turned over to spi approach, we were given holding instruction over the VOR and expect further clearance time in 30 mins. We asked reason for the hold and controller either said 'visibility is 1/2 mi' or 'visibility below landing minimums.' my first officer and I discussed the information and approach plate which showed 1/2 mi needed for the approach unless the airport lighting system was out, which was not mentioned on ATIS broadcast. I said to controller that our approach plates indicate we only need 1/2 mi, to which he replied 'state your intentions.' we asked to shoot the approach and were given vectors to join the ILS. Normal approach and landing made. Discussing incident with another company pilot at spi, discovered that there was an fdc NOTAM increasing minimum visibility to 3/4 mi for all categories. Contributing factors: dispatch while in-flight to spi with no printed WX packet which includes NOTAMS. Assumed dispatcher would advise of any pertinent NOTAMS. Of course, ATIS broadcasts do not include fdc NOTAMS that contain changes to approach minimums. Why did the controller not advise of the fdc NOTAM when we inquired about approach plate showing the 1/2 mi visibility required for the approach. In future if dispatched to airport for which I do not have the written WX (and NOTAM) packet, will specifically ask for all NOTAMS to be read to me.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MDT TURBOPROP LANDED BELOW WX MINIMUM DUE TO NOT HAVING INFO IN A CURRENT NOTAM.

Narrative: DISPATCHED FROM ORD TO CMI WITH ALTERNATE OF EVV. ENRTE TO CMI, WX DROPPED BELOW APCH MINIMUMS. ENTERED HOLD AT LOM AT CMI AND CONTACTED DISPATCH BY RADIO. DISPATCH HAD US HOLD FOR 30 MINS TO SEE IF WX WOULD IMPROVE, THEN DECIDED TO SEND US TO SPI. DISPATCH RERELEASED TO SPI WITH EVV AS ALTERNATE. NEW FUEL FIGURES WITH CURRENT AND FORECAST WX FOR SPI GIVEN. SPI WAS CURRENTLY 200 FT OVCST, 3/4 MI VISIBILITY. LEFT HOLD AND PROCEEDED TOWARD SPI AND OBTAINED ATIS INFO OF CURRENTLY 200 FT OVCST, 1/2 MI FOG. BEING TURNED OVER TO SPI APCH, WE WERE GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTION OVER THE VOR AND EXPECT FURTHER CLRNC TIME IN 30 MINS. WE ASKED REASON FOR THE HOLD AND CTLR EITHER SAID 'VISIBILITY IS 1/2 MI' OR 'VISIBILITY BELOW LNDG MINIMUMS.' MY FO AND I DISCUSSED THE INFO AND APCH PLATE WHICH SHOWED 1/2 MI NEEDED FOR THE APCH UNLESS THE ARPT LIGHTING SYS WAS OUT, WHICH WAS NOT MENTIONED ON ATIS BROADCAST. I SAID TO CTLR THAT OUR APCH PLATES INDICATE WE ONLY NEED 1/2 MI, TO WHICH HE REPLIED 'STATE YOUR INTENTIONS.' WE ASKED TO SHOOT THE APCH AND WERE GIVEN VECTORS TO JOIN THE ILS. NORMAL APCH AND LNDG MADE. DISCUSSING INCIDENT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY PLT AT SPI, DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN FDC NOTAM INCREASING MINIMUM VISIBILITY TO 3/4 MI FOR ALL CATEGORIES. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: DISPATCH WHILE INFLT TO SPI WITH NO PRINTED WX PACKET WHICH INCLUDES NOTAMS. ASSUMED DISPATCHER WOULD ADVISE OF ANY PERTINENT NOTAMS. OF COURSE, ATIS BROADCASTS DO NOT INCLUDE FDC NOTAMS THAT CONTAIN CHANGES TO APCH MINIMUMS. WHY DID THE CTLR NOT ADVISE OF THE FDC NOTAM WHEN WE INQUIRED ABOUT APCH PLATE SHOWING THE 1/2 MI VISIBILITY REQUIRED FOR THE APCH. IN FUTURE IF DISPATCHED TO ARPT FOR WHICH I DO NOT HAVE THE WRITTEN WX (AND NOTAM) PACKET, WILL SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR ALL NOTAMS TO BE READ TO ME.

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.