GA small aircraft fuel exhaustion on night training flight. Aircraft landed on highway.

Attributes
ACN	142358
Time
Date	199004
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cys
State Reference	WY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 200 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	142358
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I checked tanks at apa and estimated 3/4 tank. This checked with gauges. We left apa for VOR approach at ako. Did missed approach at akc and opened new IFR flight plan to cys. Did ILS to full stop at cys. After 45 min break I checked gauges at cys and saw slightly less than 1/2 tank. I looked at red flash light and thought fuel confirmed to 1/2 tank (2 hours). We filed IFR direct to apa and departed cys, we contacted ZDV and opened our flight plan and started en route. 13 DME out aircraft engine stopped. We did an emergency landing on us 85, about 8 mi south of cys. No injuries or damage to aircraft. Situation could have been avoided by topping tanks at apa or calling for fuel at cys. Recommend that aircraft carry measuring stick to take accurate measurement of fuel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA FUEL EXHAUSTION ON NIGHT TRAINING FLT. ACFT LANDED ON HIGHWAY.

Narrative: I CHKED TANKS AT APA AND ESTIMATED 3/4 TANK. THIS CHKED WITH GAUGES. WE LEFT APA FOR VOR APCH AT AKO. DID MISSED APCH AT AKC AND OPENED NEW IFR FLT PLAN TO CYS. DID ILS TO FULL STOP AT CYS. AFTER 45 MIN BREAK I CHKED GAUGES AT CYS AND SAW SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 1/2 TANK. I LOOKED AT RED FLASH LIGHT AND THOUGHT FUEL CONFIRMED TO 1/2 TANK (2 HRS). WE FILED IFR DIRECT TO APA AND DEPARTED CYS, WE CONTACTED ZDV AND OPENED OUR FLT PLAN AND STARTED ENRTE. 13 DME OUT ACFT ENG STOPPED. WE DID AN EMER LNDG ON U.S. 85, ABOUT 8 MI S OF CYS. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO ACFT. SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY TOPPING TANKS AT APA OR CALLING FOR FUEL AT CYS. RECOMMEND THAT ACFT CARRY MEASURING STICK TO TAKE ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF FUEL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.