Citation C500 pilot encounters headwinds while at cruise; low fuel lights illuminate and pilot diver...

Attributes
ACN	693915
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Windshear Rain Thunderstorm Turbulence Fog
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zua.artcc tower : lmt.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citation I
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	693915
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Return flight to mn from ny (teb). WX moved into area -- winds picked up at altitude to greater than 110 KTS on the nose -- planned fuel stop at mdw. En route; hit turbulence and ARTCC issued hold at gosh. Then checked fuel and realized could not be safe that long and winds picked up to 125 KTS. Immediately diverted to mke. Issued clearance to me at 3000 ft for field. Turbulence started to arrive at the field. As we arrived; requested a priority approach. Hail now just west of airport. Severe turbulence on approach to runway 25. Windshear now set in and needed to run with fuel pumps on as fuel low light was illuminating. Aircraft was 'hitting a wall of air.' turbulence was severe to extreme. Needed to keep speed up to beat turbulence to field. On reflection: 1) should have stopped for fuel in mi (earlier). 2) see #1! 3) waited until the hold was issued by chicago. Should have diverted earlier. Winds were not as forecast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CITATION C500 PLT ENCOUNTERS HEADWINDS WHILE AT CRUISE; LOW FUEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND PLT DIVERTS FOR LNDG.

Narrative: RETURN FLT TO MN FROM NY (TEB). WX MOVED INTO AREA -- WINDS PICKED UP AT ALT TO GREATER THAN 110 KTS ON THE NOSE -- PLANNED FUEL STOP AT MDW. ENRTE; HIT TURB AND ARTCC ISSUED HOLD AT GOSH. THEN CHKED FUEL AND REALIZED COULD NOT BE SAFE THAT LONG AND WINDS PICKED UP TO 125 KTS. IMMEDIATELY DIVERTED TO MKE. ISSUED CLRNC TO ME AT 3000 FT FOR FIELD. TURB STARTED TO ARRIVE AT THE FIELD. AS WE ARRIVED; REQUESTED A PRIORITY APCH. HAIL NOW JUST W OF ARPT. SEVERE TURB ON APCH TO RWY 25. WINDSHEAR NOW SET IN AND NEEDED TO RUN WITH FUEL PUMPS ON AS FUEL LOW LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING. ACFT WAS 'HITTING A WALL OF AIR.' TURB WAS SEVERE TO EXTREME. NEEDED TO KEEP SPD UP TO BEAT TURB TO FIELD. ON REFLECTION: 1) SHOULD HAVE STOPPED FOR FUEL IN MI (EARLIER). 2) SEE #1! 3) WAITED UNTIL THE HOLD WAS ISSUED BY CHICAGO. SHOULD HAVE DIVERTED EARLIER. WINDS WERE NOT AS FORECAST.

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.

Citation C500 pilot encounters headwinds while at cruise; low fuel lights illuminate and pilot diverts for landing.