Narrative:

Was in low fuel state. Not critical on initial approach. Vectored to 23 mi final. At 170 KTS turned to final. At 17 mi out slowed to gear down, flaps 15 degrees, 150 KTS. Cessna citation was leading aircraft. Tower cleared DH8 into position. Cessna missed turnoff. Issued go around at 400 ft. Declared 'emergency, minimum fuel.' vectored to close-in visual approach and landed normally. Gate arrival fuel was 4300-4500 pounds. The emergency was declared to avoid extended final again, and ensure a clear runway for landing. We did not go into reserve fuel, but could have if we flew same type of final. We could have avoided the problem had tower not cleared DH8 into position. What is more troubling though -- while on 2ND approach tower cleared another DH8 onto runway in front of us -- incredible! Luckily aircraft departed normally. Had this aircraft aborted our fuel state on a 2ND go around would have been using VFR reserve fuel. Lastly, company dispatchers have been told to cut fuel to bare minimum. I hope other aircraft will not encounter minimum fuel like we did. There is no room for error. All factors conspired against us this time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARRIVING AT CLT WITH MINIMUM FUEL, B737-400 REQUIRED TO GO AROUND DUE TO ACFT ON RWY. DECLARE LOW FUEL EMER, RETURN AND LAND.

Narrative: WAS IN LOW FUEL STATE. NOT CRITICAL ON INITIAL APCH. VECTORED TO 23 MI FINAL. AT 170 KTS TURNED TO FINAL. AT 17 MI OUT SLOWED TO GEAR DOWN, FLAPS 15 DEGS, 150 KTS. CESSNA CITATION WAS LEADING ACFT. TWR CLRED DH8 INTO POS. CESSNA MISSED TURNOFF. ISSUED GAR AT 400 FT. DECLARED 'EMER, MINIMUM FUEL.' VECTORED TO CLOSE-IN VISUAL APCH AND LANDED NORMALLY. GATE ARR FUEL WAS 4300-4500 LBS. THE EMER WAS DECLARED TO AVOID EXTENDED FINAL AGAIN, AND ENSURE A CLR RWY FOR LNDG. WE DID NOT GO INTO RESERVE FUEL, BUT COULD HAVE IF WE FLEW SAME TYPE OF FINAL. WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE PROB HAD TWR NOT CLRED DH8 INTO POS. WHAT IS MORE TROUBLING THOUGH -- WHILE ON 2ND APCH TWR CLRED ANOTHER DH8 ONTO RWY IN FRONT OF US -- INCREDIBLE! LUCKILY ACFT DEPARTED NORMALLY. HAD THIS ACFT ABORTED OUR FUEL STATE ON A 2ND GAR WOULD HAVE BEEN USING VFR RESERVE FUEL. LASTLY, COMPANY DISPATCHERS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO CUT FUEL TO BARE MINIMUM. I HOPE OTHER ACFT WILL NOT ENCOUNTER MINIMUM FUEL LIKE WE DID. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR. ALL FACTORS CONSPIRED AGAINST US THIS TIME.

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.