M20 pilot continues flight into deteriorating VFR based on AWOS at destination airport. Sneaks under...

Attributes
ACN	799324
Time
Date	200808
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : laa.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 K (231)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	799324
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance FAA Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was flying VFR at 10500 ft with scattered clouds beneath. Ahead; visibility seemed to be dropping so I decided to make a landing. I was about 10 mi northwest of liberal; ks; airport and I had it in sight. When I passed by; however; I checked the AWOS at lamar; co; and it was reporting 8 mi visibility and sky clear; so I decided to continue on to lamar and began a descent to lamar. I noticed the visibility dropping somewhat but assumed it was just a temporary thing since laa was clear. Anyway; I continued a relatively slow descent and about 6 mi southeast of lamar; I had to begin maneuvering to stay clear of the clouds. I continued the descent to pattern altitude and didn't see the airport until I was about 1 1/2 mi southeast. I continued to descend rather than retrace my route back to liberal. I got in the clear at 600-800 ft AGL! After I landed; the AWOS was still reporting clear skies! I rechked NOTAMS and there was no NOTAM indicating AWOS in error. I am sitting in a hotel room in lamar waiting out the WX and feeling stupid. I know better than to continue into deteriorating WX but; for some reason; I kept believing the AWOS even though my eyes told me something different.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20 PLT CONTINUES FLT INTO DETERIORATING VFR BASED ON AWOS AT DESTINATION ARPT. SNEAKS UNDER LOW CLOUDS TO A SAFE LANDING. AWOS STILL ADVISING THE SKIES AS CLEAR.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING VFR AT 10500 FT WITH SCATTERED CLOUDS BENEATH. AHEAD; VISIBILITY SEEMED TO BE DROPPING SO I DECIDED TO MAKE A LNDG. I WAS ABOUT 10 MI NW OF LIBERAL; KS; ARPT AND I HAD IT IN SIGHT. WHEN I PASSED BY; HOWEVER; I CHKED THE AWOS AT LAMAR; CO; AND IT WAS RPTING 8 MI VISIBILITY AND SKY CLR; SO I DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON TO LAMAR AND BEGAN A DSCNT TO LAMAR. I NOTICED THE VISIBILITY DROPPING SOMEWHAT BUT ASSUMED IT WAS JUST A TEMPORARY THING SINCE LAA WAS CLR. ANYWAY; I CONTINUED A RELATIVELY SLOW DSCNT AND ABOUT 6 MI SE OF LAMAR; I HAD TO BEGIN MANEUVERING TO STAY CLR OF THE CLOUDS. I CONTINUED THE DSCNT TO PATTERN ALT AND DIDN'T SEE THE ARPT UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 1 1/2 MI SE. I CONTINUED TO DSND RATHER THAN RETRACE MY RTE BACK TO LIBERAL. I GOT IN THE CLR AT 600-800 FT AGL! AFTER I LANDED; THE AWOS WAS STILL RPTING CLR SKIES! I RECHKED NOTAMS AND THERE WAS NO NOTAM INDICATING AWOS IN ERROR. I AM SITTING IN A HOTEL ROOM IN LAMAR WAITING OUT THE WX AND FEELING STUPID. I KNOW BETTER THAN TO CONTINUE INTO DETERIORATING WX BUT; FOR SOME REASON; I KEPT BELIEVING THE AWOS EVEN THOUGH MY EYES TOLD ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

M20 pilot continues flight into deteriorating VFR based on AWOS at destination airport. Sneaks under low clouds to a safe landing. AWOS still advising the skies as clear.