Narrative:

We were being vectored by northern california approach for visual runway 28R approach. The FMS visual was not in our database. ATIS reported charted visuals in use, so we set up the quiet bridge runway 28L/right points. At 2500 ft and on vectors, we were still in and out of the clouds, but we were able to pick up the bridge (6 NM), but not the runway. Approach control descended us to 1500 ft and kept asking if we had the runway. We answered 'no' and stayed on last assigned heading (approximately 270 degrees). When we picked up the runway, we were left of center about 3-4 mi out and on glide path (PAPI). The WX had deteriorated rapidly with a passing rain shower . We were able to descend on PAPI to safe landing, but were quite uncomfortable due to unrpted WX. We should have asked for delay vectors and full ILS approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 LNDG SFO EXPERIENCED MARGINAL WX DURING VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED BY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA APCH FOR VISUAL RWY 28R APCH. THE FMS VISUAL WAS NOT IN OUR DATABASE. ATIS RPTED CHARTED VISUALS IN USE, SO WE SET UP THE QUIET BRIDGE RWY 28L/R POINTS. AT 2500 FT AND ON VECTORS, WE WERE STILL IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PICK UP THE BRIDGE (6 NM), BUT NOT THE RWY. APCH CTL DSNDED US TO 1500 FT AND KEPT ASKING IF WE HAD THE RWY. WE ANSWERED 'NO' AND STAYED ON LAST ASSIGNED HDG (APPROX 270 DEGS). WHEN WE PICKED UP THE RWY, WE WERE L OF CTR ABOUT 3-4 MI OUT AND ON GLIDE PATH (PAPI). THE WX HAD DETERIORATED RAPIDLY WITH A PASSING RAIN SHOWER . WE WERE ABLE TO DSND ON PAPI TO SAFE LNDG, BUT WERE QUITE UNCOMFORTABLE DUE TO UNRPTED WX. WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR DELAY VECTORS AND FULL ILS APCH.

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.