Pilot of small aircraft fuel starved the engine. Unable to restart. Landed on highway.

Attributes
ACN	128572
Time
Date	198911
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : als
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13500 msl bound upper : 13500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1410 flight time type : 11
ASRS Report	128572
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I had just recently checked out in the small aircraft aircraft having been trained (as an army aviator) to know the operator's manual thoroughly, I studied that book before ever entering the aircraft. To make a long story short, the book said the fuselage auxiliary tank held 20 gal usable fuel and so I planned to fly on that tank for 1 hour. We had been on that tank for 58 minutes, over la veta pass at night when the engine failed. All attempts to restart failed, including changing tanks twice with the electric boost pump on. The night was clear and the moon was full which allowed me to see the highway (us 160). Fortunately there was only one vehicle on the road. We landed safely. 2 days later (somewhat calmer) I discovered the fuel tank door labeled '15 gal' I had starved the fuel system. I had so intensely learned the 'book' that I overlooked the obvious. And, though it's good, even important, to know the operator's manual, it doesn't do any good if it's incorrect. The a&P's may have failed in their duties to keep such information current but the pilot is still responsible for spotting such discrepancies.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA FUEL STARVED THE ENGINE. UNABLE TO RESTART. LANDED ON HIGHWAY.

Narrative: I HAD JUST RECENTLY CHECKED OUT IN THE SMA ACFT HAVING BEEN TRAINED (AS AN ARMY AVIATOR) TO KNOW THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL THOROUGHLY, I STUDIED THAT BOOK BEFORE EVER ENTERING THE ACFT. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THE BOOK SAID THE FUSELAGE AUX TANK HELD 20 GAL USABLE FUEL AND SO I PLANNED TO FLY ON THAT TANK FOR 1 HR. WE HAD BEEN ON THAT TANK FOR 58 MINUTES, OVER LA VETA PASS AT NIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART FAILED, INCLUDING CHANGING TANKS TWICE WITH THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP ON. THE NIGHT WAS CLEAR AND THE MOON WAS FULL WHICH ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE HIGHWAY (US 160). FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ONLY ONE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. WE LANDED SAFELY. 2 DAYS LATER (SOMEWHAT CALMER) I DISCOVERED THE FUEL TANK DOOR LABELED '15 GAL' I HAD STARVED THE FUEL SYSTEM. I HAD SO INTENSELY LEARNED THE 'BOOK' THAT I OVERLOOKED THE OBVIOUS. AND, THOUGH IT'S GOOD, EVEN IMPORTANT, TO KNOW THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL, IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD IF IT'S INCORRECT. THE A&P'S MAY HAVE FAILED IN THEIR DUTIES TO KEEP SUCH INFO CURRENT BUT THE PLT IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR SPOTTING SUCH DISCREPANCIES.

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.