C172 pilot reports that AWOS reported winds at 2q3 are often erroneous due to the location of the wi...

Attributes
ACN	755564
Time
Date	200709
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 2q3.airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	755564
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility Weather
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

Runway 34 is calm wind runway but ASOS can 'lead' pilots to use runway 16. AWOS 'sheltered' 'funneled' 'winds' by hangars. Thus AWOS winds different than runway 34 and runway 16 winds. Example: <5 KTS (calm) on runway 34 windsock but AWOS reports different wind like 070/07 +/-.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the windsock at south end of the runway rarely agrees with the AWOS reported wind. He stated that the sensors for AWOS wind reports are located between large hangars; and the AWOS reported winds are often inaccurate; affected by those structures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT REPORTS THAT AWOS REPORTED WINDS AT 2Q3 ARE OFTEN ERRONEOUS DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE WIND SENSORS.

Narrative: RWY 34 IS CALM WIND RWY BUT ASOS CAN 'LEAD' PLTS TO USE RWY 16. AWOS 'SHELTERED' 'FUNNELED' 'WINDS' BY HANGARS. THUS AWOS WINDS DIFFERENT THAN RWY 34 AND RWY 16 WINDS. EXAMPLE: <5 KTS (CALM) ON RWY 34 WINDSOCK BUT AWOS REPORTS DIFFERENT WIND LIKE 070/07 +/-.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THAT THE WINDSOCK AT SOUTH END OF THE RWY RARELY AGREES WITH THE AWOS REPORTED WIND. HE STATED THAT THE SENSORS FOR AWOS WIND REPORTS ARE LOCATED BETWEEN LARGE HANGARS; AND THE AWOS REPORTED WINDS ARE OFTEN INACCURATE; AFFECTED BY THOSE STRUCTURES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

C172 pilot reports that AWOS reported winds at 2q3 are often erroneous due to the location of the wind sensors.