Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 138; Flight Crew Total 9086; Flight Crew Type 8984
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Airport; Weather; Human Factors
A flight was planned and conducted with a planned fuel stop at SNJ before proceeding onward. The route included …TAS; ZUN; a distance of 437 nm. Weight and balance allowed for 80 gallons of fuel onboard. Winds aloft were forecast to be from the southwest over the route allowing for the flight to SNJ to be completed in 3.7 hours using 58 gallons of fuel at a flow of 14 GPH leaving 22 gallons in reserve.Midway along the 216 nm leg from TAS to SNJ; GPS ground speed had decreased considerably due to a much higher than forecast wind aloft. Ground speed was reduced at times to below 70 kts. I was aware the fuel station was becoming critical and as the closest airport was GUP; a deviation was made to this airport. Upon nearing the airport the ASOS indicated the runway was closed. Communication with an employee of the FBO indicated the construction was about 1;000 ft from the far end of the 7;316 ft runway 24. Inspection of the landing environment while making 2 circles revealed there was no personnel or equipment near the runway on this afternoon so I declared to any traffic in the area that I would be making an emergency landing on runway 24 due to a low fuel situation. The landing was uneventful and I exited the runway at the first turnoff; approximately 2;300 ft down the runway; which was still more than 3;700 ft before the construction area would have been reached.On the ground; the fuel remaining was measured and found to be 6 gallons. It would not have been possible; once the strong headwinds and resulting fuel situation was evaluated to fly back to base or forward to ZUN or RQE. Although this airport was not on my route; and I had no intention of needing to use a facility with a closed runway; it was the only alternative when compared to making an off field landing in the desert while attempting to reach a more suitable airport. In the future; I will adjust my route to be more closely aligned with airports where a landing could be made should strong un-forecast winds present themselves.
GA pilot reported diverting to GUP due to stronger than forecasted headwinds; but the airport was closed for construction. The runway was clear and the reporter elected to land due to his fuel situation.