Narrative:

I found myself in a situation during what was supposed to be a routine flight. I departed...on a clear; sunny; calm day with intentions to get a $100 hamburger. I made a quick stop at ZZZ to pick up my friend. We met at the self serve fuel pumps. He parked his car while I topped off my 9.75 gallon fuel tank. We departed and flew direct to [destination] for our intended dinner. I made my 10 mile and 5 mile radio calls with no response and no traffic in the area. Upon calling my downwind entry into the pattern; I was informed that the runway was closed. We circled the airport and noticed the maintenance trucks below on the runway. With a fuel burn of 4.5 gallons per hour and 9 gallons of useable fuel on board at departure; I knew we were fine to return to ZZZ with our 30 minute day VFR reserve on board. So; we made direct for ZZZ. When abeam [county airport]; I again looked at time aloft. Estimated time en route and our on board fuel total and determined that everything was as previously calculated when setting our return course. We overflew [county airport] and continued on. Shortly after passing this airport is when we observed the smoke trails of aerobatic planes above the vicinity of ZZZ. It was at this moment when I became a bit more concerned of our situation. I radioed that I was 10 miles out and inbound. I was informed that the airport was closed. I then radioed that I was low on fuel and had a passenger that was parked there. I was told I could enter in 10 minutes. I reported that I was 5 minutes out and could circle for an additional 5 minutes. Now; at that time; I believe by the conversation on the radio that the airspace would be free and clear in 10 minutes; not that they were making a slot in their practice for me to enter. Had I known; I simply could have flown back to the [county airport] and arranged fuel on the ground. Thus I never declared an emergency. I circled and was instructed to land behind the aircraft that finished their practice. When on short final; I realized that a T-6 was holding short for me. It was then that I figured I would be getting a visit from someone who would not be too happy with me. That visit took place. I was greeted at the fuel pumps by FAA aviation safety inspectors who proceeded to be firm and thorough collecting information from me. I had removed my flight bag; which usually rides right seat; from my two-seat kitfox before I had departed. Unfortunately my medical stays in my log book and my log book stays in my flight bag. I have since moved my medical to the same zip lock bag that I keep my aircraft registration in since I only fly the kitfox. I was asked to present the operating limitations of the aircraft and I handed over the 10 page operating handbook that stays in the aircraft. I was trying to answer; what seemed like at the time; 10 questions at once and trying to stay calm after what was turning into a tense moment in the sky. I have learned a valuable lesson about the importance of proper flight planning; even if it is a flight that has been flown a thousand times before. I know have an app on my phone to look up NOTAMS. Should I have turned back and shot for the county airport then called a friend for fuel? Should I have stretched it back to the flight's point of origin and probably have made it with no problems; but landed without my 30 minute reserve? Well; my plane is in one piece; I went home to my family. I meant to cause no one any grief over my compounded bad decisions that day. I feel deep down; that I made the best decision at the time and stopped any additional problems from getting the best of me.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot of an Experimental-Homebuilt aircraft took off; refueled at an intermediate stop and continued to a short layover at his destination before departing with the intention of returning to the airport where he had refueled. After passing an airport enroute; the pilot became concerned about his fuel state since air show practice was taking place at the destination airport. ATC interrupted the practice activity and the Pilot landed without incident.

Narrative: I found myself in a situation during what was supposed to be a routine flight. I departed...on a clear; sunny; calm day with intentions to get a $100 hamburger. I made a quick stop at ZZZ to pick up my friend. We met at the self serve fuel pumps. He parked his car while I topped off my 9.75 gallon fuel tank. We departed and flew direct to [destination] for our intended dinner. I made my 10 mile and 5 mile radio calls with no response and no traffic in the area. Upon calling my downwind entry into the pattern; I was informed that the runway was closed. We circled the airport and noticed the maintenance trucks below on the runway. With a fuel burn of 4.5 gallons per hour and 9 gallons of useable fuel on board at departure; I knew we were fine to return to ZZZ with our 30 minute day VFR reserve on board. So; we made direct for ZZZ. When abeam [County airport]; I again looked at time aloft. Estimated time en route and our on board fuel total and determined that everything was as previously calculated when setting our return course. We overflew [County airport] and continued on. Shortly after passing this airport is when we observed the smoke trails of aerobatic planes above the vicinity of ZZZ. It was at this moment when I became a bit more concerned of our situation. I radioed that I was 10 miles out and inbound. I was informed that the airport was closed. I then radioed that I was low on fuel and had a passenger that was parked there. I was told I could enter in 10 minutes. I reported that I was 5 minutes out and could circle for an additional 5 minutes. Now; at that time; I believe by the conversation on the radio that the airspace would be free and clear in 10 minutes; not that they were making a slot in their practice for me to enter. Had I known; I simply could have flown back to the [County airport] and arranged fuel on the ground. Thus I never declared an emergency. I circled and was instructed to land behind the aircraft that finished their practice. When on short final; I realized that a T-6 was holding short for me. It was then that I figured I would be getting a visit from someone who would not be too happy with me. That visit took place. I was greeted at the fuel pumps by FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors who proceeded to be firm and thorough collecting information from me. I had removed my flight bag; which usually rides right seat; from my two-seat Kitfox before I had departed. Unfortunately my medical stays in my log book and my log book stays in my flight bag. I have since moved my medical to the same zip lock bag that I keep my aircraft registration in since I only fly the Kitfox. I was asked to present the Operating Limitations of the aircraft and I handed over the 10 page Operating Handbook that stays in the aircraft. I was trying to answer; what seemed like at the time; 10 questions at once and trying to stay calm after what was turning into a tense moment in the sky. I have learned a valuable lesson about the importance of proper flight planning; even if it is a flight that has been flown a thousand times before. I know have an app on my phone to look up NOTAMS. Should I have turned back and shot for the County airport then called a friend for fuel? Should I have stretched it back to the flight's point of origin and probably have made it with no problems; but landed without my 30 minute reserve? Well; my plane is in one piece; I went home to my family. I meant to cause no one any grief over my compounded bad decisions that day. I feel deep down; that I made the best decision at the time and stopped any additional problems from getting the best of me.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.