Light GA twin runs very low on fuel close to destination.

Attributes
ACN	142931
Time
Date	199004
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bhm
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bhm
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	142931
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Assumed aircraft had been topped off, less a 30 min reposition flight by another pilot. Visually checked tanks prior to flight, fuel level appeared to be normal considering the burn of the reposition flight. About 30 mins from destination, began to realize fuel was less than desired or expected. Timing and gauges indicated a landing with 3/16 full reading on fuel gauge. The right tank showing 1/8 full, I declared a fuel emergency. The only airport in the area was the destination airport, so we pressed on. The left engine was restarted on the left auxiliary tank which indicated near zero. A two engine uneventful landing was made. In retrospect, I had assumed the aircraft was topped off which it wasn't, and also assumed the fuel gauges were accurate. Motto: as usual, never assume!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LIGHT GA TWIN RUNS VERY LOW ON FUEL CLOSE TO DESTINATION.

Narrative: ASSUMED ACFT HAD BEEN TOPPED OFF, LESS A 30 MIN REPOSITION FLT BY ANOTHER PLT. VISUALLY CHKED TANKS PRIOR TO FLT, FUEL LEVEL APPEARED TO BE NORMAL CONSIDERING THE BURN OF THE REPOSITION FLT. ABOUT 30 MINS FROM DEST, BEGAN TO REALIZE FUEL WAS LESS THAN DESIRED OR EXPECTED. TIMING AND GAUGES INDICATED A LNDG WITH 3/16 FULL READING ON FUEL GAUGE. THE R TANK SHOWING 1/8 FULL, I DECLARED A FUEL EMER. THE ONLY ARPT IN THE AREA WAS THE DEST ARPT, SO WE PRESSED ON. THE L ENG WAS RESTARTED ON THE L AUX TANK WHICH INDICATED NEAR ZERO. A TWO ENG UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS MADE. IN RETROSPECT, I HAD ASSUMED THE ACFT WAS TOPPED OFF WHICH IT WASN'T, AND ALSO ASSUMED THE FUEL GAUGES WERE ACCURATE. MOTTO: AS USUAL, NEVER ASSUME!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.