Deciding if and when to declare an emergency.

Bottom line

Some pilots are reluctant to report an urgency condition when they encounter situations which may not be immediately perilous but are potentially catastrophic. An aircraft is in at least an urgency condition the moment the pilot becomes doubtful about position, fuel endurance, weather, or any other condition that could adversely affect flight safety. When a situation is potentially catastrophic but not immediately perilous, ask for help then, not after the situation has developed into a distress condition.