Fuel Burned

In the spring of 1984, I was 23 and a new pilot, with barely 120 hours. While planning a trip that would include my wife and another couple, I called the FBO to ask about the amount of fuel burn on the Piper Warrior I had rented for the flight. I was advised the Warrior burns eight gph in cruise at 9500 feet msl and, with that information, I completed my flight planning and we all met at the airport.

Editorial Staff

Monday, October 24, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A new pilot faced a critical low-fuel emergency during a night flight over the desert after being given incorrect fuel burn data by the FBO.
The pilot made a precarious landing with minimal fuel remaining, discovering afterward that the actual fuel burn was significantly higher than advised, consuming his planned reserve.
The key lesson learned was the imperative for pilots to always verify aircraft specifications, such as fuel burn, directly from the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) rather than trusting external advice.

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The attendant fueled the Warrior up to the tabs, plus an additional five gallons in each wing, giving us 44 gallons for the flight-planned 04:45 flight. We departed shortly after 4:00 pm on a beautiful clear day.