Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Training on sector; a C206 advised 10 NM south of the airport; he was low on fuel and requested priority. The trainee told the pilot he would get it and turned the aircraft he was to follow out for new sequence and descended the C206 from 5;000 to 3;000. Trainee then amended the descent to 4;000 due to the traffic ahead. Due to frequency congestion two partial transmissions came from the C206 apparently requesting to be turned towards the airport. Trainee descended the C206 again to 3;000 before realizing a B737 was too close behind at 3;000 and told the C206 to maintain 4;000. Both of these altitude assignments went unanswered. The C206 instead stated something like 'engine at idle and don't know if it will stay running.' Trainee did not respond to the C206; but made 2 other transmissions. I took the frequency when I saw the C206 descending and turned and descended the B737. I assumed the C206 was unable to maintain level flight since he had not acknowledged the clearance to 3;000. I turned the C206 towards the airport and asked if he could make the field. He said he could and had the field in sight. I issued a visual approach clearance and asked his condition. He said everything was operating normal. The pilot of the C206 clearly had issues. From the time he asked for priority due to low fuel until it sounded like he engine was going to quit was less than 5 minutes and 10 flying miles. He should have been able to realize sooner he may be in trouble instead of waiting until it was almost too late.
TRACON Controller providing OJT described a confused 'low fuel' event when inbound general aviation traffic indicated the need to fly toward the airport with all haste. The reporter listed the need for cleared communications between the pilot and ATC would have prevented this incident.