Narrative:

We were on an IFR flight plan from tix to lee. Prior to leaving tix, we filed an IFR flight plan and WX report. Destination reports 900 ft ceiling, 2 mi visibility. Minimums are 700 ft and 1 1/4 mi visibility for the landing runway 31 approach. 10 mi out, we got the latest AWOS and the WX was the same at leesburg. Orl approach decided to vector us and set us up for the approach. 3 mi out, we were still on the approach and still couldn't see the runway. 2 mi out we spotted the airport and runway 31. We canceled IFR and went to unicom. As we stated our intentions of landing on runway 31, there was an act opposite of us taking off on runway 13. He aborted and taxied off runway. We went around and called traffic. The local FBO called using 'runway 13 is in use.' I observed the windsock, which was not up or moving. The field was uncontrolled. I called the FBO and told them I wanted to land on runway 31. He came back and said 'we are using runway 13.' I said, 'how can anyone who is IFR rated use the opposite runway of an approach, when the field is IFR?' we decided to circle to land on runway 13. The FBO should have no say in which runway is used. The windsock was dead and any runway could have been used. The other aircraft should have realized from our calls that runway 31 would have been a better choice. And even if the field was uncontrolled, IFR minimums are still in effect.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMERCIAL INST RATED PLT FLYING A LIGHT TWIN ENG ACFT AT LEE, FLORIDA, RPTS A CONFLICT WITH AN ACFT ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF DURING IMC WHILE THIS ACFT IS ON AN INST APCH TO THE OPPOSING RWY.

Narrative: WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM TIX TO LEE. PRIOR TO LEAVING TIX, WE FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN AND WX RPT. DEST RPTS 900 FT CEILING, 2 MI VISIBILITY. MINIMUMS ARE 700 FT AND 1 1/4 MI VISIBILITY FOR THE LNDG RWY 31 APCH. 10 MI OUT, WE GOT THE LATEST AWOS AND THE WX WAS THE SAME AT LEESBURG. ORL APCH DECIDED TO VECTOR US AND SET US UP FOR THE APCH. 3 MI OUT, WE WERE STILL ON THE APCH AND STILL COULDN'T SEE THE RWY. 2 MI OUT WE SPOTTED THE ARPT AND RWY 31. WE CANCELED IFR AND WENT TO UNICOM. AS WE STATED OUR INTENTIONS OF LNDG ON RWY 31, THERE WAS AN ACT OPPOSITE OF US TAKING OFF ON RWY 13. HE ABORTED AND TAXIED OFF RWY. WE WENT AROUND AND CALLED TFC. THE LCL FBO CALLED USING 'RWY 13 IS IN USE.' I OBSERVED THE WINDSOCK, WHICH WAS NOT UP OR MOVING. THE FIELD WAS UNCTLED. I CALLED THE FBO AND TOLD THEM I WANTED TO LAND ON RWY 31. HE CAME BACK AND SAID 'WE ARE USING RWY 13.' I SAID, 'HOW CAN ANYONE WHO IS IFR RATED USE THE OPPOSITE RWY OF AN APCH, WHEN THE FIELD IS IFR?' WE DECIDED TO CIRCLE TO LAND ON RWY 13. THE FBO SHOULD HAVE NO SAY IN WHICH RWY IS USED. THE WINDSOCK WAS DEAD AND ANY RWY COULD HAVE BEEN USED. THE OTHER ACFT SHOULD HAVE REALIZED FROM OUR CALLS THAT RWY 31 WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER CHOICE. AND EVEN IF THE FIELD WAS UNCTLED, IFR MINIMUMS ARE STILL IN EFFECT.

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.