Pilot reported landing on an occupied runway by a disabled aircraft due to a low fuel condition.

Date: 2024-10 · Aircraft: Lancair Evolution · Phase: landing

Anomalies: conflict-ground-conflict|critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|inflight-event-encounter-fuel-issue

Synopsis

Pilot reported landing on an occupied runway by a disabled aircraft due to a low fuel condition.

Narrative

I was flying from ZZZ to ZZZ1. On my flight from ZZZ in the morning; I observed enough fuel for my two flights that day. For the second flight home that day I took off from ZZZ1 that evening for my short trip home to ZZZ with ample fuel via gauges. Yet while en route to ZZZ; my gauges read near empty. To make matters worse; while flying over the terrain in the area; I discovered a plane just landed on XX and blew its tires. He was then disabled on the runway. I asked him where he was located on the runway as I had a serious problem now with fuel. They said they were about 1000 feet from the XX threshold. With the ZZZ runway being 8000 feet and me landing there thousands of times; I knew I could safely land on the XY end and make it off at Taxiway 1 at least 4000 feet from the disabled plane. The way I heard the calls was there was only a disabled plane that had just landed on the runway. I made several calls telling the people my situation. My rationale for choosing to land was the two closest airports did not have jet fuel X. And my indication from gauges was very low fuel. I was concerned I couldn't make the other airports and I needed to get down. I know how long the ZZZ runway is. The sky was clear. The wind was calm. I knew I could get down safely without jeopardizing the stranded aircraft. I landed safely and taxied off at Taxiway 1. I was flying VFR. Only communication was with ZZZ1 and ZZZ traffic. I felt I did not have time to contact ATC to declare an emergency when I was not communicating with them at the time. I felt the best action was to let the people on the ground know my intentions and land due to the fair-weather conditions and the long runway. I felt I had no other option.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.