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Reporter claims the ASOS WX system is inadequate and unsafe. Reported WX different from actual airport observed WX.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 362600 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199703 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : fca |
| State Reference | MT |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2970 msl bound upper : 2970 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zlc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Airliner 99 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent : approach landing other |
| Route In Use | approach : visual |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 2700 |
| ASRS Report | 362600 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
ASOS in fca reporting 7000 ft over 1/4 mi visibility. I was given a clearance to descend to 8000 ft and hold at smith lake NDB. On descending below the overcast layer, I was able to see the airport. The area was VFR. I canceled IFR and informed center that I was going to the airport to see if the AWOS was correct. I proceeded VFR. I have seen this system report inaccurately in the past. I flew to the runway and ascertained that runway 20 was clear approximately 1/2 - 3/4 of its length. There was fog over the approach end of runway 2 (the ILS location and AWOS monitor location). I remained VFR and landed on runway 20 (there is no approach to runway 20). My contention is that the WX system is inadequate and unsafe, in its present condition. At no time was safety compromised. My landing was a judgement call. I was never out of VFR conditions.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: RPTR CLAIMS THE ASOS WX SYS IS INADEQUATE AND UNSAFE. RPTED WX DIFFERENT FROM ACTUAL ARPT OBSERVED WX.
Narrative: ASOS IN FCA RPTING 7000 FT OVER 1/4 MI VISIBILITY. I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND TO 8000 FT AND HOLD AT SMITH LAKE NDB. ON DSNDING BELOW THE OVCST LAYER, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE ARPT. THE AREA WAS VFR. I CANCELED IFR AND INFORMED CTR THAT I WAS GOING TO THE ARPT TO SEE IF THE AWOS WAS CORRECT. I PROCEEDED VFR. I HAVE SEEN THIS SYS RPT INACCURATELY IN THE PAST. I FLEW TO THE RWY AND ASCERTAINED THAT RWY 20 WAS CLR APPROX 1/2 - 3/4 OF ITS LENGTH. THERE WAS FOG OVER THE APCH END OF RWY 2 (THE ILS LOCATION AND AWOS MONITOR LOCATION). I REMAINED VFR AND LANDED ON RWY 20 (THERE IS NO APCH TO RWY 20). MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE WX SYS IS INADEQUATE AND UNSAFE, IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION. AT NO TIME WAS SAFETY COMPROMISED. MY LNDG WAS A JUDGEMENT CALL. I WAS NEVER OUT OF VFR CONDITIONS.
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.