Event Details


Title:Low fuel, Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, C-GTSB
Micro summary:This Lockheed L-1011 experienced a low-fuel situation requiring a diversion.
Event Time:1998-09-12 at 1117 UTC
File Name:1998-09-12-UK.pdf
Publishing Agency:Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB)
Publishing Country:United Kingdom
Report number:EW/C98/9/1
Pages:3
Diversion Airport:London Stansted Airport, Essex, England
Site of event:Diverting to London Stansted Airport
Departure:Glasgow International Airport, Glasgow, Scotland
Destination:London Stansted Airport, Essex, England
Airplane Type(s):Lockheed L-1011 Tristar
Flight Phase:Approach
Registration(s):C-GTSB
Operator(s):Air Transat
Type of flight:Revenue
Occupants:312
Fatalities:0
Serious Injuries:0
Minor/Non-Injured:312
Other Injuries:0
Diverted to:London Stansted Airport, Essex, England
Executive Summary:Following a flight from Toronto, C-GTSB landed at Glasgow Airport at 0826 hrs. A fresh crew took over for the next flight to London Gatwick Airport and uplifted 10,400 litres of fuel to give a total on board of 30,800 lb, Using the callsign TSC 267, the commander taxiied off stand at 0952 hrs and took off at 1007 hrs.

On arrival in the Gatwick area at 1100 hrs, TSC 267 was instructed to take up the 'Willo' hold at Flight Level (FL) 110 and was initially informed that the delay would be around 15 minutes. Then, at 1104 hrs, the crew asked for confirmation of the delay and informed the controller that they would have to divert if it was too long. The controller acknowledged their request and asked them to standby while he checked. At 1106 hrs, he informed TSC 267 that their expected approach time was 1134 hrs. The crew replied that they could not accept that delay and that they would have to divert to Stansted. This message was acknowledged by the controller and, while he was co- ordinating the diversion, he instructed TSC 267 to maintain the aircraft's present heading of 270°.

Shortly afterwards, TSC 267 was turned right onto 360° and then transferred to London Control (Biggin Sector) at 1109 hrs.

On check-in with London Control, TSC 267 was turned right onto 055° and the crew advised the controller that they would like to land at Stansted "as fast as possible". The controller confirmed that he was giving them vectors to Stansted and then transferred TSC 267 to London Control (Northwest Departures) at 1112 hrs. On the new frequency, the crew established radio contact and asked the controller to confirm that there would be no delay going into Stansted. The controller informed TSC that there was no delay and that they were "currently number two for Stansted". Then, at 1117 hrs the crew asked for descent. When they were instructed to maintain altitude for a short time, the crew informed the controller that they were now requesting priority on landing as they were getting low on fuel. The controller asked TSC 267 if they wished to declare a Mayday for fuel shortage. In response, the crew asked for information on the estimated time before they would be landing. When they were informed that they had 40 track miles to touchdown, the crew requested a shorter track as they estimated their distance from Stansted to be 24 miles. The controller then advised TSC 267 that the surface wind at Stansted was 270°/06 kt and asked if they like to land on Runway 05 (landing runway at the time was Runway 23). When the crew replied in the affirmative, the aircraft was turned left onto 350°. Thereafter, TSC 267 was given a stepped descent and radar vectors for the ILS at Stansted and transferred though Essex Radar to Stansted Tower. Examination of the radio recording indicates that the aircraft landed at Stansted at 1128 hrs; the last surface wind report prior to landing was 250°/08 kt.
Learning Keywords:Operations - Low Fuel
Close match:Low fuel, Incident, Boeing 737-500, G-MSKB
Airliner landing with low fuel at Helsinki-Vantaa airport on 3.10.2003
Incorrect fuel calculation of a German aircraft required special traffic arrangements at Helsinki-Vantaa airport

 




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