What happened
A pilot with four years of experience on this specific aircraft type was operating a flight that encountered significant delays due to weather. Although the pilot's initial calculations indicated a requirement of 900 pounds of fuel, and the onboard totalizer showed 956 pounds, the flight was impacted by ground delays of up to 2.5 hours at the destination. During the flight, the pilot was placed in a holding pattern with an expected completion time set for 50 minutes later.
Approximately 52 minutes after departure, the pilot was directed toward a 35-mile final approach. At this time, the pilot notified air traffic control that the aircraft was in a fuel-critical state, prompting the controller to prioritize the aircraft ahead of others. By 84 minutes into the flight, the controller inquired about the fuel status, to which the pilot reported low fuel levels and a drop in oil pressure. Shortly after, at the 85-minute mark, the pilot reported the shutdown of the right engine and declared an emergency, stating the aircraft would be unable to reach the intended airport.
Post-accident investigations of the wreckage confirmed that the fuel tanks and caps were undamaged. However, only 1.5 gallons of fuel were recovered from the tanks, a volume that fell below the aircraft's specified unusable fuel threshold. This indicates that the aircraft had experienced fuel exhaustion.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating with insufficient fuel reserves to account for the extended duration caused by weather-related holding and delays.
- The amount of fuel remaining in the tanks was less than the amount required to maintain engine operation beyond the unusable fuel limit.