PA31 had to ask for priority handling when unforecast WX delays would use most of his reserve fuel.

Attributes
ACN	348677
Time
Date	199609
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bet
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 400 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	348677
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : non radar
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This is a PIC statement for a flight in a piper navajo chieftain from emmonak, ak, to bethel, ak. VFR flight planning called for 60 mins en route. Fuel on board was 1 hour 40 mins. Upon arrival in bethel, I encountered unexpected ATC delays due to deteriorated unforecast WX. The tower called for a delay of 25 mins. Based on experience, ATC delays due to WX at bethel often extend beyond that of anticipated. All safety considerations dictated that I had a fuel priority situation. I asked for such priority and soon thereafter was granted clearance into the class D airspace and clearance to land.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 HAD TO ASK FOR PRIORITY HANDLING WHEN UNFORECAST WX DELAYS WOULD USE MOST OF HIS RESERVE FUEL.

Narrative: THIS IS A PIC STATEMENT FOR A FLT IN A PIPER NAVAJO CHIEFTAIN FROM EMMONAK, AK, TO BETHEL, AK. VFR FLT PLANNING CALLED FOR 60 MINS ENRTE. FUEL ON BOARD WAS 1 HR 40 MINS. UPON ARR IN BETHEL, I ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED ATC DELAYS DUE TO DETERIORATED UNFORECAST WX. THE TWR CALLED FOR A DELAY OF 25 MINS. BASED ON EXPERIENCE, ATC DELAYS DUE TO WX AT BETHEL OFTEN EXTEND BEYOND THAT OF ANTICIPATED. ALL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS DICTATED THAT I HAD A FUEL PRIORITY SIT. I ASKED FOR SUCH PRIORITY AND SOON THEREAFTER WAS GRANTED CLRNC INTO THE CLASS D AIRSPACE AND CLRNC TO LAND.

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.