B737-500 diverts and lands with less than anticipated fuel.

Attributes
ACN	726714
Time
Date	200702
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mci.airport
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mci.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225
ASRS Report	726714
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Held at pia and motif approximately 30 mins. Accepted via ACARS a change in altitude to mci (next flight) with 3.9 pounds fuel burn and 8.9 pounds divert fuel. Diverted with 9.0 pounds and FMC showed arrival fuel of 5.0 pounds. At FL360; headwinds were stronger than anticipated (300/130). FMC now showed arrival fuel of 4.4 pounds (far res was 3.9 pounds). Mci high sector (133.72) issued descent approximately 200 NM out to FL340; then FL280. I explained our fuel state and was told to either declare an emergency or go somewhere else. Then descended to FL240 and switched to 125.25. I declared minimum fuel and we were cleared direct with discretion descent. We landed on runway 27 with 3.4 pounds. Mci WX was VMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-500 DIVERTS AND LANDS WITH LESS THAN ANTICIPATED FUEL.

Narrative: HELD AT PIA AND MOTIF APPROX 30 MINS. ACCEPTED VIA ACARS A CHANGE IN ALT TO MCI (NEXT FLIGHT) WITH 3.9 LBS FUEL BURN AND 8.9 LBS DIVERT FUEL. DIVERTED WITH 9.0 LBS AND FMC SHOWED ARRIVAL FUEL OF 5.0 LBS. AT FL360; HEADWINDS WERE STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED (300/130). FMC NOW SHOWED ARRIVAL FUEL OF 4.4 LBS (FAR RES WAS 3.9 LBS). MCI HIGH SECTOR (133.72) ISSUED DESCENT APPROX 200 NM OUT TO FL340; THEN FL280. I EXPLAINED OUR FUEL STATE AND WAS TOLD TO EITHER DECLARE AN EMER OR GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEN DESCENDED TO FL240 AND SWITCHED TO 125.25. I DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL AND WE WERE CLEARED DIRECT WITH DISCRETION DESCENT. WE LANDED ON RWY 27 WITH 3.4 LBS. MCI WX WAS VMC.

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.