Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 9.5; Flight Crew Total 277; Flight Crew Type 96
Other / Unknown
Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Weather; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Intended destination Poplar Grove/C77. Route VFR around southern tip of Lake Michigan. Encountered weather in the vicinity of Laporte/PPO. Proceeded south looking for a way around the weather. Turned back north after communicating with Grissom Approach and failing to find a way around the weather. In the vicinity of Starke County/OXI the overcast disappeared and went to clear. Lake Michigan shoreline was visible 20 miles north. We climbed to 6;500 FT in the clear and proceeded west over the weather. Contacted Chicago flight watch on 122.0 for weather at our destination. I also provided flight watch with a PIREP relating to observed conditions. As I proceeded west; flight watch advised us that ceilings were overcast around our destination. I turned back to the east to return to home base. Spoke with flight watch again and they advised us that at Marshall County/C75 conditions were clear below 12;000. Having adequate fuel with reserves I again turned west. I contacted Chicago Center for flight following and was given a transponder code. Upon arrival to C75 I found that the field was overcast. Contacting Chicago for weather they replied that C75 was still clear below 12;000. The AWOS at C75 was also broadcasting that same information. As my fuel level was low and there was not an airport within reasonable distance that was reporting clear conditions; I made the decision to enter the layer and land at C75. This was completed successfully. In my descent; I lost contact with Chicago. Approximately 15 minutes after landing I was met by a police officer asking us if we had just landed. Apparently they were contacted by Chicago. I had the officer observe the weather on the FBO display monitor and make an outside visual observation that indeed the AWOS was reporting incorrectly. The airport manager for C75 was contacted by myself and appraised of the fact that the AWOS was reporting incorrect information. He informed me that he was aware of the problem and had been aware of it for some time. He did not seem willing or able to remedy the situation. As this posed a significant hazard to my flight operations that day; please enter in to the NOTAMs that the AWOS at C75 is inaccurate. Flight watch and Chicago Center had no idea that the information they were giving to me was incorrect. Had it been know that the AWOS weather information was unreliable or if the AWOS had simply been disconnected or turned off; we would have returned to our home base with little effort or effect. My apologies for any problems that I may have caused. I would like to thank the folks at Chicago as they assisted professionally and promptly when needed.
The reporter states that he talked to the airport manager who reports that the AWOS at C75 has been sporadically reporting completely inaccurate weather; while at other times functioning flawlessly. The manager believes that the state is responsible for maintaining the AWOS; but they have been unresponsive.
PA28 pilot reports that the AWOS at C75 gave inaccurate information; which was also relayed to him by ZAU. The result was arriving at the airport above a solid under cast with insufficient fuel to go elsewhere. The decision was made to enter the layer and land; which was successful.