Controller at ind reports inaccurate ASOS WX reporting.

Attributes
ACN	345303
Time
Date	199608
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ind
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : private
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 5
ASRS Report	345303
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

The ASOS installed on the field at ind was reporting: metar kind 04004 KTS 10 SM clear 21/20 AO317. The actual WX was a ceiling ht of 1200 ft AGL, contrary to the ASOS report. This misrepresentation of the WX could easily lull a pilot into poor judgement calls and creates considerable last min fumbling in the cockpit. ASOS equipment should be scrapped and WX observers should be utilized.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR AT IND RPTS INACCURATE ASOS WX RPTING.

Narrative: THE ASOS INSTALLED ON THE FIELD AT IND WAS RPTING: METAR KIND 04004 KTS 10 SM CLR 21/20 AO317. THE ACTUAL WX WAS A CEILING HT OF 1200 FT AGL, CONTRARY TO THE ASOS RPT. THIS MISREPRESENTATION OF THE WX COULD EASILY LULL A PLT INTO POOR JUDGEMENT CALLS AND CREATES CONSIDERABLE LAST MIN FUMBLING IN THE COCKPIT. ASOS EQUIP SHOULD BE SCRAPPED AND WX OBSERVERS SHOULD BE UTILIZED.

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.