Register

Off-Airport Landings: They’re Often About Fuel Mismanagement

It’s important to learn how to avoid coming up short in avgas calculations.

Many off-airport landings are the result of fuel mismanagement. [Credit: Shutterstock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Unscheduled off-airport landings are often caused by pilot fuel mismanagement, stemming from not trusting fuel gauges and inadequate conservative planning.
  • Pilots must meticulously calculate fuel endurance, visually checking tanks, rounding up consumption figures from the POH/AFM, and accounting for all flight phases, including ground operations and climb.
  • Leaning the fuel mixture at altitude is a vital technique to increase endurance and range, a practice pilots should utilize regardless of aircraft ownership.
  • Awareness of an aircraft's specific fuel system quirks or increased consumption due to aftermarket modifications is crucial, as these can significantly impact actual fuel burn beyond standard figures.
See a mistake? Contact us.

When an airplane lands short of a runway—especially if it touches down on a highway or street near the airport—it always makes the 6 o’clock news. And often it’s reported as a “crash,” even when there is no damage, not even to the airplane.

It’s embarrassing to the pilot and infuriating to the aviation savvy that may be inspired to throw things at the television or go full-on troll on the TV station’s social media. Try to restrain yourself.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE