VFR landing below minimums.

Attributes
ACN	96642
Time
Date	198810
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mce
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mer
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	96642
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was on IFR clearance from oak to mce. Mce was reporting 3/4 mi in ground fog. I executed 2 ILS approachs with missed on each miss after adding power I saw the runway the miss incorporated left traffic. I asked ATC to go VFR and right traffic. I did not understand that this was not legal until after, even though right traffic was unlimited clear. As soon as I landed mce reported VFR. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter states pressure of just getting airplane down after three attempts, plus frustration of having half of the runway clearly visible and half in fog caused snap decision to cancel IFR. Knows regulations, realizes should have asked for circle to land and remained IFR. No tower at mce, no comment from approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR LNDG BELOW MINIMUMS.

Narrative: WAS ON IFR CLRNC FROM OAK TO MCE. MCE WAS RPTING 3/4 MI IN GND FOG. I EXECUTED 2 ILS APCHS WITH MISSED ON EACH MISS AFTER ADDING PWR I SAW THE RWY THE MISS INCORPORATED LEFT TFC. I ASKED ATC TO GO VFR AND RIGHT TFC. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS NOT LEGAL UNTIL AFTER, EVEN THOUGH RIGHT TFC WAS UNLIMITED CLR. AS SOON AS I LANDED MCE RPTED VFR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. REPORTER STATES PRESSURE OF JUST GETTING AIRPLANE DOWN AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS, PLUS FRUSTRATION OF HAVING HALF OF THE RWY CLEARLY VISIBLE AND HALF IN FOG CAUSED SNAP DECISION TO CANCEL IFR. KNOWS REGULATIONS, REALIZES SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR CIRCLE TO LAND AND REMAINED IFR. NO TWR AT MCE, NO COMMENT FROM 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.