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:

Pilots often face fuel starvation due to inaccurate flight planning, miscalculating needs (e.g., for headwinds or climb fuel), or relying on optimistic fuel gauges and incorrect aircraft capacity data.
Fueling errors are frequently caused by distractions, inadequate supervision of fueling personnel, or failing to visually verify the correct fuel type and quantity added to each tank.
System failures, such as a bad alternator preventing fuel transfer or a leak siphoning fuel, coupled with insufficient monitoring of electrical systems or fuel gauges, can lead to unexpected engine failure.
Pilots must diligently adhere to pre-flight procedures, manage distractions, constantly monitor all gauges, and be prepared to assert Pilot-in-Command authority to prioritize safety in critical situations.

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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.