Small aircraft forced landing with instructor and student due fuel starvation.

Attributes
ACN	142459
Time
Date	199004
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cys
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl 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	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	142459
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed apa with my student for IFR x-country flight. The student estimated fuel at 3/4 tank visually and confirmed on the gauges. With an estimated 4 plus hours of fuel, we departed to the east, did a VOR approach at ako, picked up our new flight plan on the miss and then flew to cys for an ILS to full stop. On the ground, after about a 45 min break the student checked the tanks, estimated slightly under 1/2 (2 hour) and we filed for the return to apa. After takeoff, we contacted den center for our flight plan and started en route. 11 DME south of cys, our engine stopped. We did a successful forced landing on highway 85 about 8 mi south of cys. No damage to aircraft or occupants. The situation could have been avoided by topping tanks at apa rather than estimating the amount on board, or topping tanks in cys since the student once again used estimated fuel on board. I recommend that aircraft and pilots have access to metering stick for judging amount of fuel rather than a visibility guess.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA FORCED LNDG WITH INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT DUE FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative: DEPARTED APA WITH MY STUDENT FOR IFR X-COUNTRY FLT. THE STUDENT ESTIMATED FUEL AT 3/4 TANK VISUALLY AND CONFIRMED ON THE GAUGES. WITH AN ESTIMATED 4 PLUS HRS OF FUEL, WE DEPARTED TO THE E, DID A VOR APCH AT AKO, PICKED UP OUR NEW FLT PLAN ON THE MISS AND THEN FLEW TO CYS FOR AN ILS TO FULL STOP. ON THE GND, AFTER ABOUT A 45 MIN BREAK THE STUDENT CHKED THE TANKS, ESTIMATED SLIGHTLY UNDER 1/2 (2 HR) AND WE FILED FOR THE RETURN TO APA. AFTER TKOF, WE CONTACTED DEN CTR FOR OUR FLT PLAN AND STARTED ENRTE. 11 DME S OF CYS, OUR ENG STOPPED. WE DID A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LNDG ON HWY 85 ABOUT 8 MI S OF CYS. NO DAMAGE TO ACFT OR OCCUPANTS. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY TOPPING TANKS AT APA RATHER THAN ESTIMATING THE AMOUNT ON BOARD, OR TOPPING TANKS IN CYS SINCE THE STUDENT ONCE AGAIN USED ESTIMATED FUEL ON BOARD. I RECOMMEND THAT ACFT AND PLTS HAVE ACCESS TO METERING STICK FOR JUDGING AMOUNT OF FUEL RATHER THAN A VIS GUESS.

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.