Narrative:

Left mlu with min fuel established by company for the flight. Stayed at 6000 ft instead of filed, 10000 ft, to avoid strong headwinds. Approximately 60 east of scurry, ATC asked us to slow to 180 KTS for spacing into dfw. We complied. Note: fuel was right at min fuel. 20 mi out from scurry, ATC told us to turn to 210 degrees and slow to 160 KTS. At this point, captain became irritated and responded 'no.' ATC said to 'say again.' response 'no.' short pause, ATC said 'air carrier are you saying no?' response, 'that's right, no, we've been at 6000 ft from mlu bucking headwinds and things are tight. We're going direct scurry.' ATC responded 'are you at 160 KTS?' 'yes.' 'well that's all you had to say, cleared direct scurry, maintain 6000 ft.' upon landing, FAA was on telephone violating captain for not adhering to ATC instructions. Note: we landed 100 pounds short of min reserve fuel. Captain should have explained the fuel concern to ATC rather than snapping 'no!' I was the 'PF' and felt I could not step over captain response. Supplemental information from acn 228310: if we start carrying too much fuel, the company will ask you why, and may give you a reprimand for it. At this time the controller asked what I wanted to do. The answer was that I was going to run short (on fuel). Landing with 400 pounds of fuel on board which is 250 pounds less than what it should be. I also had to consider the gauges themselves are not all that accurate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LTT CREW REFUSED AN ATC VECTOR BECAUSE OF LOW FUEL STATE.

Narrative: LEFT MLU WITH MIN FUEL ESTABLISHED BY COMPANY FOR THE FLT. STAYED AT 6000 FT INSTEAD OF FILED, 10000 FT, TO AVOID STRONG HEADWINDS. APPROX 60 E OF SCURRY, ATC ASKED US TO SLOW TO 180 KTS FOR SPACING INTO DFW. WE COMPLIED. NOTE: FUEL WAS RIGHT AT MIN FUEL. 20 MI OUT FROM SCURRY, ATC TOLD US TO TURN TO 210 DEGS AND SLOW TO 160 KTS. AT THIS POINT, CAPT BECAME IRRITATED AND RESPONDED 'NO.' ATC SAID TO 'SAY AGAIN.' RESPONSE 'NO.' SHORT PAUSE, ATC SAID 'ACR ARE YOU SAYING NO?' RESPONSE, 'THAT'S RIGHT, NO, WE'VE BEEN AT 6000 FT FROM MLU BUCKING HEADWINDS AND THINGS ARE TIGHT. WE'RE GOING DIRECT SCURRY.' ATC RESPONDED 'ARE YOU AT 160 KTS?' 'YES.' 'WELL THAT'S ALL YOU HAD TO SAY, CLRED DIRECT SCURRY, MAINTAIN 6000 FT.' UPON LNDG, FAA WAS ON TELEPHONE VIOLATING CAPT FOR NOT ADHERING TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS. NOTE: WE LANDED 100 LBS SHORT OF MIN RESERVE FUEL. CAPT SHOULD HAVE EXPLAINED THE FUEL CONCERN TO ATC RATHER THAN SNAPPING 'NO!' I WAS THE 'PF' AND FELT I COULD NOT STEP OVER CAPT RESPONSE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 228310: IF WE START CARRYING TOO MUCH FUEL, THE COMPANY WILL ASK YOU WHY, AND MAY GIVE YOU A REPRIMAND FOR IT. AT THIS TIME THE CTLR ASKED WHAT I WANTED TO DO. THE ANSWER WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO RUN SHORT (ON FUEL). LNDG WITH 400 LBS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHICH IS 250 LBS LESS THAN WHAT IT SHOULD BE. I ALSO HAD TO CONSIDER THE GAUGES THEMSELVES ARE NOT ALL THAT ACCURATE.

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.