Let’s break it down: What are your constraints?
You have no electrical system
➤ That means no lights, so you cannot legally fly after sunset.
Refer to §91.209(a) – Position lights required from sunset to sunrise
And remember: no anti-collision light? That’s also required unless you’re exempt under §91.205(c) (which you’re not)
➤➤Even if you could legally fly, the terrain around these parts is mountainous to say the least, with few roads. So in the event of an engine failure (most likely due to fuel starvation), you only have the black hole of the desert to try to find a suitable landing spot in, which leaves your fate only up to chance.
You’re out of legal options for continued flight
➤ With 3.2 gallons of fuel, you’ve got maybe 25–30 minutes in the tank at economy cruise.
➤ That’s well under the required fuel minimums under §91.151(a)(1) for day VFR:
“…a flight to the first point of intended landing, and assuming normal cruising speed, there is enough fuel to fly for at least 30 minutes beyond that point.”
➤ You cannot legally depart with only 25 minutes of fuel in this scenario.
You’re in the desert with no communications
➤ No radio, no cell signal, no crew car, no people around.
➤ But you do have daylight left: about 50 minutes until official sunset, and 78 until civil twilight ends.
➤ And tomorrow’s weather is forecast to be IFR—which for a Cub with no instruments or electrical system might as well be the apocalypse.
So… what would I do?
I would not attempt to fly anywhere
➤ Legally, I can’t meet the 30-minute fuel reserve requirement (91.151)
➤ Ethically and practically, it’s outright dangerous to try flying 48 NM into a headwind at dusk with nearly empty tanks and no lights
Flying from Angel Fire to Taos is just not an option. It is neither legal, nor safe.
I would stay put and secure the airplane
➤ Tie the Cub down. Chock the tires. If there’s a hangar, beg for space like a dusty-winged stray.
Start preparing for the overnight
➤ You’re in the desert, so temperatures will drop. Get your survival kit ready (if you brought one—which you should on Cub flights in remote areas!).
➤ Use your last bits of battery (if any) for a SPOT beacon, Garmin InReach, or other GPS tracker with SOS/ping functions.
➤ If a nearby farmhouse, ranch road, or structure is within walking distance before sunset, you might consider heading out to find help. But don’t risk getting stranded in the desert in the dark.
In the morning, arrange fuel delivery or extraction
➤ Once you’ve got cell signal or human contact, you have options:
See if someone can drive 100LL to you in a fuel canister. In a cub, even 5 gallons goes a long way!
If the forecast worsens, consider trailering the plane out or waiting it out for a better day.
📚 The Big Takeaways:
✅ 91.151(a)(1) – You must have 30 minutes of fuel beyond your destination in VFR
✅ 91.209(a) – No position lights = no flight after sunset
✅ No electrics = no IFR, no night ops, and no radios—your safety net is YOU
✅ Tomorrow’s weather matters today – sometimes the go/no-go call comes after landing
“Legal” ≠ “Smart”
Legally, the decision to shut down and stay put is the only viable one. But more importantly: it’s the kind of judgment that keeps taildraggers from becoming tailspiners. As a Cub pilot, your margin of safety is your decision-making.