A Pilot's Fueling Mystery Explained

Pilot recalls a lesson learned about tanks from a dead stick landing.

Kevin Capozzi

Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 09:55 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Harrowing experience teaches pilot a valuable lesson—always check your tanks. [Illustration: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

A pilot experienced a dual engine failure in his Cessna Skymaster mid-flight, necessitating an emergency landing at Joseph, Oregon (KSJY).
The incident stemmed from the pilot's reliance on fuel burn calculations and a "cavalier attitude," leading him to depart without visually inspecting the fuel tanks, despite ordering a partial fill from the FBO.
Although the FBO maintained they had fueled the aircraft, the pilot concluded the fuel was not delivered, emphasizing the critical lesson to always physically check fuel levels before flight.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Aviation has always been a part of my life.

My father owned multiple airplanes over the years, including a Beech Staggerwing (which I never saw), a Ryan Navion, turbo Apache, Twin Bonanza 1, Twin Bonanza 2 (H50), Commander 680FLP, Commander 680V (with the “Century” conversion installed), and finally a Twin Commander 690B. He was in the Canadian Air Force as a World War II radar service technician. He loved aviation and KF Aerospace started out of his hangar at Kelowna International Airport (CYLW) in British Columbia.