Flight crew declared an emergency when, in fact, they had adequate fuel remaining.

Attributes
ACN	236383
Time
Date	199303
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos
State Reference	MA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bos
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	236383
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	236882
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On flight to boston we were given holding instructions at norwich to hold at woons intersection with an efc DF 30 mins from that time. We checked with the controller telling him if we had to hold we may need to divert. We slowed down and also got approval from our dispatch if needed to go to bdl. The controller then gave us direct boston via a 360 degree turn and 210 KTS. About 5 DME from boston we turned downwind for runway 33L and asked what number in sequence. The controller responded with #14. I equated this with 28 mins of flying which would put us under the required reserve fuel. I also was unfamiliar with boston, this was my second time there. I declared a 'fuel emergency' for lack of recalling the phrase 'minimum fuel advisory.' we were cleared on base about 10 DME out and landed fuel was 1400 pounds. Fuel required for reserve was 1000 pounds. I felt there was missed communication with ATC where when we were cleared into boston airspace we should have had a higher priority. I didn't want to get backed into a corner with an airport and area I wasn't familiar with.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC DECLARED AN EMER WHEN, IN FACT, THEY HAD ADEQUATE FUEL REMAINING.

Narrative: ON FLT TO BOSTON WE WERE GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AT NORWICH TO HOLD AT WOONS INTXN WITH AN EFC DF 30 MINS FROM THAT TIME. WE CHKED WITH THE CTLR TELLING HIM IF WE HAD TO HOLD WE MAY NEED TO DIVERT. WE SLOWED DOWN AND ALSO GOT APPROVAL FROM OUR DISPATCH IF NEEDED TO GO TO BDL. THE CTLR THEN GAVE US DIRECT BOSTON VIA A 360 DEG TURN AND 210 KTS. ABOUT 5 DME FROM BOSTON WE TURNED DOWNWIND FOR RWY 33L AND ASKED WHAT NUMBER IN SEQUENCE. THE CTLR RESPONDED WITH #14. I EQUATED THIS WITH 28 MINS OF FLYING WHICH WOULD PUT US UNDER THE REQUIRED RESERVE FUEL. I ALSO WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH BOSTON, THIS WAS MY SECOND TIME THERE. I DECLARED A 'FUEL EMER' FOR LACK OF RECALLING THE PHRASE 'MINIMUM FUEL ADVISORY.' WE WERE CLRED ON BASE ABOUT 10 DME OUT AND LANDED FUEL WAS 1400 LBS. FUEL REQUIRED FOR RESERVE WAS 1000 LBS. I FELT THERE WAS MISSED COM WITH ATC WHERE WHEN WE WERE CLRED INTO BOSTON AIRSPACE WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A HIGHER PRIORITY. I DIDN'T WANT TO GET BACKED INTO A CORNER WITH AN ARPT AND AREA I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH.

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.