Light single engine aircraft runs out of fuel 2 miles short of destination.

Attributes
ACN	119764
Time
Date	198908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ffz
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ffz
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 31 flight time total : 693 flight time type : 124
ASRS Report	119764
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

A VFR x-country flight was planned from falcon field in mesa, az. Fuel gauges during the flight gave expected indications during the trip, and preflight planning indicated the trip would be completed with 30 min VFR fuel reserve plus 15 mins fuel to spare. At the end of the flight, 2 mi from the end of final approach to runway 22L (a wide left base, followed by final, had been instructed by tower) the engine became rough and stopped in about 15 second. I advised tower that I had engine failure, and that a suitable landing area (new uninhabited subdivision street) had been identified as the safest choice. The fuel gauges still indicated expected fuel levels at engine failure. An uneventful landing was made on the street. The plane was eventually refueled, taking 22.8 gal (only 22.5 gal usable in this aircraft). Hindsight: 1) stupid to plan a flight near VFR mins. 2) should have bought some fuel at tia during return stop, but late for work and gauges/times were looking good. Even though small aircraft manual gives performance figures for an aircraft in good condition, not brand new, I should probably add 10-20% to all fuel burn figures, something I have never been instructed to do while attaining my ratings.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LIGHT SINGLE ENGINE ACFT RUNS OUT OF FUEL 2 MILES SHORT OF DESTINATION.

Narrative: A VFR X-COUNTRY FLT WAS PLANNED FROM FALCON FIELD IN MESA, AZ. FUEL GAUGES DURING THE FLT GAVE EXPECTED INDICATIONS DURING THE TRIP, AND PREFLT PLANNING INDICATED THE TRIP WOULD BE COMPLETED WITH 30 MIN VFR FUEL RESERVE PLUS 15 MINS FUEL TO SPARE. AT THE END OF THE FLT, 2 MI FROM THE END OF FINAL APCH TO RWY 22L (A WIDE LEFT BASE, FOLLOWED BY FINAL, HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY TWR) THE ENGINE BECAME ROUGH AND STOPPED IN ABOUT 15 SEC. I ADVISED TWR THAT I HAD ENGINE FAILURE, AND THAT A SUITABLE LNDG AREA (NEW UNINHABITED SUBDIVISION STREET) HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE SAFEST CHOICE. THE FUEL GAUGES STILL INDICATED EXPECTED FUEL LEVELS AT ENGINE FAILURE. AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS MADE ON THE STREET. THE PLANE WAS EVENTUALLY REFUELED, TAKING 22.8 GAL (ONLY 22.5 GAL USABLE IN THIS ACFT). HINDSIGHT: 1) STUPID TO PLAN A FLT NEAR VFR MINS. 2) SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT SOME FUEL AT TIA DURING RETURN STOP, BUT LATE FOR WORK AND GAUGES/TIMES WERE LOOKING GOOD. EVEN THOUGH SMA MANUAL GIVES PERFORMANCE FIGURES FOR AN ACFT IN GOOD CONDITION, NOT BRAND NEW, I SHOULD PROBABLY ADD 10-20% TO ALL FUEL BURN FIGURES, SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO WHILE ATTAINING MY RATINGS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.