Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C; 210D
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
C210 entered VFR from southwest of GFK. C210 was sequenced to follow a C172 on base for Runway 35L and then cleared to land. At that point I turned to watch the Local Control 2 Controller. A little while later I heard the Local Control 1 Controller initiate a go around with C210 and then 5-10 seconds later I heard him re issue the go around instruction multiple times and then instruct the aircraft on the runway C172 to start departure roll. During these transmissions C210 reported 'bingo fuel' which I believe meant he was low on fuel; he then reported the C172 in sight and continued to land despite the instructions of the Local Control 1 Controller. As C210 landed; I would estimate the lateral distance between C210 and the C172 on departure roll to be 500-800 FT with both aircraft on the runway simultaneously. When C210 touched down he applied braking power and appeared to be turning off the runway at A3. A short time later I observed C210 with a stalled engine stopped on the runway and it also appeared he had a flat tire I then called the Local FBO and they brought out a tug to pull him into the apron. The aircraft was removed from the runway and normal operations resumed. I believe this event happened as a result of the pilot of C210 not advising the Tower of his fuel situation on initial contact. The Local Control 1 Controller sequenced C210 to follow the C172 in a timely manner. The Local Control 1 Controller also issued a go-around with adequate time and altitude for C210 to initiate a go-around safely and in a timely manner. If C210 would have made any statement about his fuel situation after the initial go around instruction the Local Controller could have cancelled the departure clearance of C172 and turned him off the runway or told the C172 to start takeoff roll to ensure the separation would be adequate for C210 arrival. C210 in my opinion ignored the instructions of the Local Control 1 Controller because he was low on fuel and didn't want to admit it and created a very dangerous situation. Recommendation; encouraging pilots to advise ATC when they may be in a low fuel situation.
[Narrative #2 contained no additional information.]
GFK Controller voiced concern regarding the reluctance of some pilots to advise ATC of their minimum fuel state; chronicling a recent example of a loss of separation event caused by this pilot failure.