Air carrier medium large transport made approach and landing with WX reported below minimums.

Attributes
ACN	90644
Time
Date	198807
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : scc
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	90644
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Received WX from FSS prior to descent of 1/2 and 300 overcast with a variable RVR of 16 to 2400'. The approach plate indicated WX of 1/2 mi or RVR of 1800' was required for the ILS approach. I elected to fly the approach based on the 1/2 given and the variable RVR above 1800'. During descent center asked if we had the WX and we said yes. Just prior to the FAF center handed my flight over to the local FSS that had already given me the WX. We contacted radio to report the FAF inbound. At that time new WX was given that was below minimums but the regulations allow us to continue if we are at G/south intercept or past FAF which we were. The WX was better than reported and a landing was completed. The following day I did some research on variable RVR's and found regulation 121.655 that indicates to me I was in error for flying the approach with the given WX and I should have requested a constant RVR reading before flying the approach. Also since my first WX request was prior to the hour and my arrival was after the hour new WX was reported that I did not have until contacting the FSS at the FAF. In the future I will request a constant RVR before any approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG MADE APCH AND LNDG WITH WX REPORTED BELOW MINIMUMS.

Narrative: RECEIVED WX FROM FSS PRIOR TO DSCNT OF 1/2 AND 300 OVCST WITH A VARIABLE RVR OF 16 TO 2400'. THE APCH PLATE INDICATED WX OF 1/2 MI OR RVR OF 1800' WAS REQUIRED FOR THE ILS APCH. I ELECTED TO FLY THE APCH BASED ON THE 1/2 GIVEN AND THE VARIABLE RVR ABOVE 1800'. DURING DSCNT CENTER ASKED IF WE HAD THE WX AND WE SAID YES. JUST PRIOR TO THE FAF CENTER HANDED MY FLT OVER TO THE LCL FSS THAT HAD ALREADY GIVEN ME THE WX. WE CONTACTED RADIO TO RPT THE FAF INBND. AT THAT TIME NEW WX WAS GIVEN THAT WAS BELOW MINIMUMS BUT THE REGS ALLOW US TO CONTINUE IF WE ARE AT G/S INTERCEPT OR PAST FAF WHICH WE WERE. THE WX WAS BETTER THAN RPTED AND A LNDG WAS COMPLETED. THE FOLLOWING DAY I DID SOME RESEARCH ON VARIABLE RVR'S AND FOUND REG 121.655 THAT INDICATES TO ME I WAS IN ERROR FOR FLYING THE APCH WITH THE GIVEN WX AND I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED A CONSTANT RVR READING BEFORE FLYING THE APCH. ALSO SINCE MY FIRST WX REQUEST WAS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND MY ARR WAS AFTER THE HR NEW WX WAS RPTED THAT I DID NOT HAVE UNTIL CONTACTING THE FSS AT THE FAF. IN THE FUTURE I WILL REQUEST A CONSTANT RVR BEFORE ANY APCH.

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