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Piper PA28 pilot continued to land as the visibility deteriorated to 2 mi at an uncontrolled airport in class G airspace.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 534101 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200112 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : vpz.airport |
| State Reference | IN |
| Altitude | msl single value : 1500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | Snow |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : visual |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 270 flight time type : 187 |
| ASRS Report | 534101 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : landed as precaution |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Airspace Structure |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
Before flying, I checked the taf and radar. Although the WX was to worsen, it was to stay VFR. So, while flying, the visibility began to drop, which did not alarm me at first. As the visibility began to drop below my comfort level, I expedited my approach to the airport (we were already heading there). I was listening to the local ASOS, which was still calling 10 SM, then 9 SM, then 8 SM, and finally stayed around 8 SM. As I was 1/2 mi from the runway, it reported 2 SM. I believe at that point that I was in class G airspace, but am unsure. I did not make any radio calls, which was not good on my part. I did not want to break off the approach and get an IFR clearance because I was so close to the airport and was afraid conditions would worsen. After landing, only the first 1/2 of the runway had bad visibility, the other was at least 5 SM.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PIPER PA28 PLT CONTINUED TO LAND AS THE VISIBILITY DETERIORATED TO 2 MI AT AN UNCTLED ARPT IN CLASS G AIRSPACE.
Narrative: BEFORE FLYING, I CHKED THE TAF AND RADAR. ALTHOUGH THE WX WAS TO WORSEN, IT WAS TO STAY VFR. SO, WHILE FLYING, THE VISIBILITY BEGAN TO DROP, WHICH DID NOT ALARM ME AT FIRST. AS THE VISIBILITY BEGAN TO DROP BELOW MY COMFORT LEVEL, I EXPEDITED MY APCH TO THE ARPT (WE WERE ALREADY HEADING THERE). I WAS LISTENING TO THE LCL ASOS, WHICH WAS STILL CALLING 10 SM, THEN 9 SM, THEN 8 SM, AND FINALLY STAYED AROUND 8 SM. AS I WAS 1/2 MI FROM THE RWY, IT RPTED 2 SM. I BELIEVE AT THAT POINT THAT I WAS IN CLASS G AIRSPACE, BUT AM UNSURE. I DID NOT MAKE ANY RADIO CALLS, WHICH WAS NOT GOOD ON MY PART. I DID NOT WANT TO BREAK OFF THE APCH AND GET AN IFR CLRNC BECAUSE I WAS SO CLOSE TO THE ARPT AND WAS AFRAID CONDITIONS WOULD WORSEN. AFTER LNDG, ONLY THE FIRST 1/2 OF THE RWY HAD BAD VISIBILITY, THE OTHER WAS AT LEAST 5 SM.
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.