Narrative:

Scheduled part 121 carrier, we launched from crw en route to clt with cae as our alternate. Arriving north of clt, we entered holding at shine intersection (with numerous other aircraft). Our efc was changed 3 to 4 times when the WX did not improve (low fog, below minimums). We updated our possible alternates with fuel on board (highest priority). After 1 hour of holding, we proceeded to cae where WX was 100 overcast 1 mi. Flo, clt, alb, chs were not available to use because of low visibility conditions. The captain was constantly talking with company representatives at clt, flo, cae, etc for the best divert airfield. Center told us that 5 aircraft had landed at cae and that 2 aircraft had gone missed approach at cae. Chs WX was not good enough to shoot the ILS approach. Center handed us over to cae approach and we were vectored to shoot the ILS 29 approach. RVR reported as 2600 ft (required 2400 ft) with visibility still at 1 mi in mist. ILS runway 11 approach was not usable (RVR 1600 ft). Our fuel was down to 1300 pounds (65 mins). With the widespread fog covering all areas up to 200 mi away from clt, we were committed to shoot the approach at cae. Cae approach cleared us to shoot ILS runway 29 and reported RVR down to 2400. We declared emergency fuel and commenced the approach, culminating with a successful landing on runway 29. It was an emergency situation with no other possible courses of action. There were no other available suitable divert airfields within our range.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A DH8 DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO LOW FUEL BECAUSE OF HOLDING DELAYS DUE TO LOW CLOUD CEILINGS AND FOG.

Narrative: SCHEDULED PART 121 CARRIER, WE LAUNCHED FROM CRW ENRTE TO CLT WITH CAE AS OUR ALTERNATE. ARRIVING N OF CLT, WE ENTERED HOLDING AT SHINE INTXN (WITH NUMEROUS OTHER ACFT). OUR EFC WAS CHANGED 3 TO 4 TIMES WHEN THE WX DID NOT IMPROVE (LOW FOG, BELOW MINIMUMS). WE UPDATED OUR POSSIBLE ALTERNATES WITH FUEL ON BOARD (HIGHEST PRIORITY). AFTER 1 HR OF HOLDING, WE PROCEEDED TO CAE WHERE WX WAS 100 OVCST 1 MI. FLO, CLT, ALB, CHS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO USE BECAUSE OF LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS. THE CAPT WAS CONSTANTLY TALKING WITH COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES AT CLT, FLO, CAE, ETC FOR THE BEST DIVERT AIRFIELD. CTR TOLD US THAT 5 ACFT HAD LANDED AT CAE AND THAT 2 ACFT HAD GONE MISSED APCH AT CAE. CHS WX WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO SHOOT THE ILS APCH. CTR HANDED US OVER TO CAE APCH AND WE WERE VECTORED TO SHOOT THE ILS 29 APCH. RVR RPTED AS 2600 FT (REQUIRED 2400 FT) WITH VISIBILITY STILL AT 1 MI IN MIST. ILS RWY 11 APCH WAS NOT USABLE (RVR 1600 FT). OUR FUEL WAS DOWN TO 1300 LBS (65 MINS). WITH THE WIDESPREAD FOG COVERING ALL AREAS UP TO 200 MI AWAY FROM CLT, WE WERE COMMITTED TO SHOOT THE APCH AT CAE. CAE APCH CLRED US TO SHOOT ILS RWY 29 AND RPTED RVR DOWN TO 2400. WE DECLARED EMER FUEL AND COMMENCED THE APCH, CULMINATING WITH A SUCCESSFUL LNDG ON RWY 29. IT WAS AN EMER SIT WITH NO OTHER POSSIBLE COURSES OF ACTION. THERE WERE NO OTHER AVAILABLE SUITABLE DIVERT AIRFIELDS WITHIN OUR RANGE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.