Descent below MDA -- what would you do?

"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...

Yes, I know both the Contact and SVFR were unavailable. On the other
hand, people were flying around VFR. I know my original statement of
"assume
it's 2-1/2 miles where you are" eliminated VFR from the list of legal
alternatives, but for all I know, it really was 3 or 4 miles.

I could have gone missed, gotten back in contact with ATC, cancelled IFR,
and then proceeded back to the airport VFR. But that seems totally
pointless.

What if I hadn't asked you to assume it was 2-1/2 miles? The rest stays
the same, ATIS at several airports in the area reporting variously 2-1/2,
3, and 4 miles. Lacking an official report, the best I can say is "an
honest evaluation of flight visibility by the pilot could have reasonably
been said to be 3 miles".


Are you asking what's legal or what's wise?

Assuming the former, as long as you have at least three miles visibility and
remain at least 500 feet below, 1000 feet above, and 2000 feet lateral
clearance from all clouds I'd say you can legally land. FAR 91.175 would no
longer apply as you're no longer operating under IFR.

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

Are you asking what's legal or what's wise?

Neither. I'm asking what other people would do.