Narrative:

Departed cle at XX40. I read checklist, captain responded on fuel challenge response was: sufficient cap left. On climb captain stated we had not been fueled but had fuel to go to destination (day). At that time we had approximately 900 pounds fuel. Burn to day was 500-600 pounds. We were at 8000' and I felt we could reach day with a 45 min reserve. En route winds reduced airspeed. I informed the captain our fuel landing in day would be 15-20 min. At that time the captain elected to go to lima, oh which was 38 mi closer. The decision was made with 45 min fuel on board, we landed with 30 min fuel remaining. Contributing factors: 1) company gives 'days off' for returning to the gate for insufficient fuel load. This practice will cause pilots to 'push' a low fuel situation. 2) taxi checklist is extremely long. Keep first officer's head down, reading rather than north the gauges and outside the aircraft. 3) passenger were loaded 5 min prior to normal departure time probably increasing the captain's checklist speed. Corrective action: have captain or first officer sign for fuel dispensed into aircraft at all locations.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT IN LTT TYPE ACFT DEPARTED CLE FOR DAY WITHOUT SUFFICIENT FUEL. MADE UNSCHEDULED LNDG FOR REFUELING.

Narrative: DEPARTED CLE AT XX40. I READ CHECKLIST, CAPT RESPONDED ON FUEL CHALLENGE RESPONSE WAS: SUFFICIENT CAP LEFT. ON CLIMB CAPT STATED WE HAD NOT BEEN FUELED BUT HAD FUEL TO GO TO DEST (DAY). AT THAT TIME WE HAD APPROX 900 LBS FUEL. BURN TO DAY WAS 500-600 LBS. WE WERE AT 8000' AND I FELT WE COULD REACH DAY WITH A 45 MIN RESERVE. ENRTE WINDS REDUCED AIRSPEED. I INFORMED THE CAPT OUR FUEL LNDG IN DAY WOULD BE 15-20 MIN. AT THAT TIME THE CAPT ELECTED TO GO TO LIMA, OH WHICH WAS 38 MI CLOSER. THE DECISION WAS MADE WITH 45 MIN FUEL ON BOARD, WE LANDED WITH 30 MIN FUEL REMAINING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) COMPANY GIVES 'DAYS OFF' FOR RETURNING TO THE GATE FOR INSUFFICIENT FUEL LOAD. THIS PRACTICE WILL CAUSE PLTS TO 'PUSH' A LOW FUEL SITUATION. 2) TAXI CHECKLIST IS EXTREMELY LONG. KEEP F/O'S HEAD DOWN, READING RATHER THAN N THE GAUGES AND OUTSIDE THE ACFT. 3) PAX WERE LOADED 5 MIN PRIOR TO NORMAL DEP TIME PROBABLY INCREASING THE CAPT'S CHECKLIST SPEED. CORRECTIVE ACTION: HAVE CAPT OR F/O SIGN FOR FUEL DISPENSED INTO ACFT AT ALL LOCATIONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.