A C206 pilot encounters intense snow and hail during arrival into sun.

Attributes
ACN	578361
Time
Date	200304
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sun.airport
State Reference	ID
Altitude	agl single value : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Snow
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sun.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19.5 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 260
ASRS Report	578361
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to alternate flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

1 mi from touchdown, with the runway in sight, I flew in to an intense snow/hail storm. There was an opening to the side, so I diverted and flew back into VFR conditions, did a 360 degree, and landed. I plan on visiting the tower to get a better idea of what they can see. I wonder if they could see that small visual obscuration and advise airplanes on approach?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C206 PLT ENCOUNTERS INTENSE SNOW AND HAIL DURING ARR INTO SUN.

Narrative: 1 MI FROM TOUCHDOWN, WITH THE RWY IN SIGHT, I FLEW IN TO AN INTENSE SNOW/HAIL STORM. THERE WAS AN OPENING TO THE SIDE, SO I DIVERTED AND FLEW BACK INTO VFR CONDITIONS, DID A 360 DEG, AND LANDED. I PLAN ON VISITING THE TWR TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THEY CAN SEE. I WONDER IF THEY COULD SEE THAT SMALL VISUAL OBSCURATION AND ADVISE AIRPLANES ON 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.