Under which conditions may an aircraft on a straight-in VOR approach continue its descent below the OCA?

• A. When the aircraft has the control tower in sight
• B. When the aircraft is in visual contact with the ground and with the runway lights in sight
• C. When it seems possible to land
• D. When the aircraft is in contact with the ground but not with the runway in sight yet

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that descending below the obstacle clearance altitude is allowed only when you have the visual cues needed to complete a safe landing. OCA protects you while you’re on the instrument path, and you may descend below it only when you can see the runway environment well enough to land. Seeing both the ground and the runway lights in sight provides the necessary visual reference to continue the approach visually and land. Simply seeing the ground or having tower contact isn’t sufficient, and “seems possible to land” is not a safe criterion. Hence, the condition described—visual contact with the ground and the runway lights in sight—is the correct requirement.