Fueling Blunders Quite Common in Safety Reporting System

IFR Magazine combed through ASRS reports and found that trend to be surprisingly prevalent.

Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

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Fueling the aircraft yourself with self-service pumps is a way to avoid fueling errors and maybe even save some bucks over full-service fueling. [Credit: FLYING Magazine Archive]

Key Takeaways:

Fuel starvation incidents frequently stem from multiple errors, including inaccurate flight planning (e.g., miscalculating capacity, headwinds, or math), unreliable fuel gauges, and mechanical failures like faulty alternators or leaks.
Pilot oversight and distractions during critical phases, especially fueling, often lead to insufficient or incorrect fuel onboard, highlighting the need for vigilant supervision and adherence to established procedures.
Maintaining strong pilot-in-command (PIC) authority, consistently performing thorough pre-flight checks (including visually confirming fuel levels), and practicing emergency procedures are crucial for preventing fuel-related emergencies.

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Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) reports show many ways to get something simple wrong. Here you’ll see how creative errors can sneak in and deprive pilots of the fuel that keeps us airborne.

Flight Planning

A pilot encountered 32-35 knot headwinds at cruise. At 2.5 hours airborne, they decided to land for fuel because only 8 gallons remained. Fifteen minutes later, the engine failed. He landed safely on a county road and found the tanks were dry.