Yakker,
this was the point I was rasing earlier in the same thread. Somethings just don't add up. However, I guess that the insurers will now have sat on Vince as they did to AJWTCX - whose accident was no doubt not of his own making either - I do not know the circumstances!
I had a mate once who rented an aircraft to do a bit of general handling and bash the circuit. He queried the fuel state on booking out and was told " it's OK G---- has long range tanks ( I think it was a c152) so you will have plenty of fuel. " On his penultimate circuit he made a full stop landing as the weather was closing in and he thought that he'd had enough after an hour an 10 mins or so. Taxied to the pumps and was gobsmacked to hear the Avgas hit the metal on the bottom of the both wing tanks - another circuit and he would have been making a deadstick landing! Ordinarily he would, like me, have made visial check but because the flight log looked like the A/c needed fuel, he hadn't and relied on unverified advice from the dispatcher. He now has a calibrated dipstick!
I am not familiar with the CT but note that dipping the tanks may be an unreliable way to verifiy contents due to there shallow but long construction. If this is a problem with type then all the more reason to watch the clock and work to a very generous margin.
Finally, just for the avoidance of doubt for anyone south of the border. Within 20 minutes flying time of the redoubtable Vince's Crash site were , in addition to Dundee airport (about 3 minutes away), Perth ( tarmac & grass with lots of fuel and good advice), Fife ( tayside aviation - great), RAF Leuchars (boys in blue will always accept an emergency) not to mention those overflown on your way to Dundee - Portmoak ( probably no Avgas but at least a safe landing site) Balado (again, lots of open space. ) Conversely, North of Dundee on a direct track to Kinloss I cannot think of any active airfields unless Edzell is still being used by Microlights? He had probably flown though one of the most well served concentration of GA airfields anywhere in Scotland - and not bothered to stop for fuel (or ask directions). Inexcusable!
Perth is a popular stopping point for a lot of traffic heading into the highlands and , from personal experience, I would commend this aerodrome to those unfamiliar with Scottish Airspace and local weather phenomena. It is a great overnight stop with engineering and all manner of facilities available. The same also applies to Cumbernauld and Fife where you will also be welcome.
Last edited by Munnyspinner; 15th August 2009 at 18:49.
Reason: Further thoughts and typos