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Feeling Fuelish

Overconfidence, with a strong desire to sleep in my own bed that night, almost leads to disaster from multiple causes.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The pilot began a 450-mile flight home with stiff headwinds and deteriorating weather, quickly finding themselves pushing personal fuel minimums for a non-stop trip.
  • Despite potential fuel stops going IFR and worsening conditions at the destination and nearby alternates, the pilot continued, hoping to reach their home base.
  • This resulted in a dangerous low-altitude "scud-running" situation at night and on minimum fuel, leading the pilot to vow against making similar risky decisions in the future.
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After several relaxing days, I finally was able to strap on my Cardinal RG and head home. I’d had an enjoyable family holiday, but it was time to face the music and be back at the office the next morning. Only I was 450 miles from home, with the destination weather forecast to get gnarlier as the day went on. Even with the stiff headwinds, I had enough fuel to make it a non-stop. Sort of. As it turned out, I should have stopped for gas before the weather worsened.

The first hundred or so miles had me cruising among at least three stratus layers, all of them broken. I could intermittently see blue sky above and terrain below. My fuel computer told me I had adequate reserves at my destination, given the headwind. Just.

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