When Aircraft Fuel Runs Out

With the engine still running and sputtering, we were getting closer to the airport. With about 10.5 hours of dual under my belt, I was not frightened for some reason, assuming we would disembark and swim if it came to ditching.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A student pilot's pre-flight concern about an unknown fuel quantity was dismissed by the instructor, who deemed it "enough" after a brief gauge check.
During the return flight, the engine sputtered over the San Francisco Bay due to critically low fuel, leading to an emergency declaration and a tense return to the airport.
Post-flight, it was revealed the plane took 25.4 gallons of fuel, nearly its full usable capacity, confirming the dangerously low fuel state during the incident.
The experience taught the pilot the critical importance of always verifying and topping off fuel tanks when the quantity is uncertain, especially without dipsticks.

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For my 11th training flight, I arrived ready but my instructor was talking with someone. He told me to preflight the Cessna 152, and he would be right out. I completed the preflight and hopped aboard, strapping myself into the left seat. A few minutes later, my instructor got in, asking if I had any questions.

“Just one,” I said. “I can see fuel in both tanks, but I don’t know how much is there.” He reached past me to turn on the master switch and the gauges both settled on about tank. He said, “We’ve got enough, let’s go.”