Narrative:

I departed ZZZ1 on feb/tue/05 at XA00Z. I arrived ZZZ2 at XC09Z with 900 pounds of fuel remaining (more than adequate IFR reserve). Forecast WX was: 090 degrees at 5 KTS; visibility greater than 6 SM; scattered at 2000 ft; overcast at 3500 ft. The ILS approach at ZZZ2 has minimums of decision altitude/ht 1100 ft; and 4 mi. Actual WX upon arrival was 600 ft broken; 10 SM; mist; ragged ceiling. After executing 2 ILS approachs; I had 700 pounds remaining. Localizer approach has landing minimums of 653 ft AGL. Instead of requesting localizer approach being that the ceiling was supposedly 600 ft; I declared minimum fuel and requested the abc ILS approach which I did not have an approach plate for. I did let ATC know that; and requested the minimums and missed approach procedure numbers. After being vectored now for mins; they denied me the approach. Now at 600 pounds remaining; I again declared minimum fuel; was again denied the approach; upon which I declared an emergency. They then cleared me for the abc ILS; read me the numbers; and I landed without incident with VFR reserves. In retrospect I should have shot the localizer approach and gave it a try. However; I did not want to go missed a third time; I wanted to land. Declaring the emergency gave me the lowest minimums; and best chance to land safely.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PREMIER 1 CREW DECLARED A FUEL EMER WHEN UNEXPECTED WX DELAYS REDUCED FUEL BELOW ARR ESTIMATES.

Narrative: I DEPARTED ZZZ1 ON FEB/TUE/05 AT XA00Z. I ARRIVED ZZZ2 AT XC09Z WITH 900 LBS OF FUEL REMAINING (MORE THAN ADEQUATE IFR RESERVE). FORECAST WX WAS: 090 DEGS AT 5 KTS; VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 6 SM; SCATTERED AT 2000 FT; OVCST AT 3500 FT. THE ILS APCH AT ZZZ2 HAS MINIMUMS OF DECISION ALT/HT 1100 FT; AND 4 MI. ACTUAL WX UPON ARR WAS 600 FT BROKEN; 10 SM; MIST; RAGGED CEILING. AFTER EXECUTING 2 ILS APCHS; I HAD 700 LBS REMAINING. LOC APCH HAS LNDG MINIMUMS OF 653 FT AGL. INSTEAD OF REQUESTING LOC APCH BEING THAT THE CEILING WAS SUPPOSEDLY 600 FT; I DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL AND REQUESTED THE ABC ILS APCH WHICH I DID NOT HAVE AN APCH PLATE FOR. I DID LET ATC KNOW THAT; AND REQUESTED THE MINIMUMS AND MISSED APCH PROC NUMBERS. AFTER BEING VECTORED NOW FOR MINS; THEY DENIED ME THE APCH. NOW AT 600 LBS REMAINING; I AGAIN DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL; WAS AGAIN DENIED THE APCH; UPON WHICH I DECLARED AN EMER. THEY THEN CLRED ME FOR THE ABC ILS; READ ME THE NUMBERS; AND I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT WITH VFR RESERVES. IN RETROSPECT I SHOULD HAVE SHOT THE LOC APCH AND GAVE IT A TRY. HOWEVER; I DID NOT WANT TO GO MISSED A THIRD TIME; I WANTED TO LAND. DECLARING THE EMER GAVE ME THE LOWEST MINIMUMS; AND BEST CHANCE TO LAND SAFELY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.