Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
I observed the lead aircraft; a C172; on the runway and the trail aircraft; a C182; on short final. Local Control instructed the C182 to go-around because runway separation would not have been maintained. The C182 responded that they did not have enough fuel. Local Control then cleared the C182 to land. It appeared that the C172 was approximately 2;700 FT down the runway when the C182 crossed the threshold. It was unanimous among controllers in the Tower Cab that allowing the C182 to land did not pose any safety risk to either aircraft. All controllers felt that sending the C182 around would have placed the C182 in an unsafe situation given his reported fuel shortage. After a discussion with the pilot of the C182 on the Tower telephone; he reported seeing the C172 off the runway when he crossed the threshold. It did not appear that way to any controller in the Tower Cab.
Tower Controller described a less than required landing separation event when the second aircraft refused ATC's go around instruction because of a minimum fuel situation.