Small aircraft has forced landing due poor planning and fuel exhaustion.

Attributes
ACN	202650
Time
Date	199202
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : apf
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
ASRS Report	202650
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Before starting to rent aircraft at FBO I had 42 hours cross country experience on other types and nil hours in command on type since obtaining ppl in july 1989. I did not have any experience of small aircraft endurance except that I knew that handbooks specified periods between 4 and 6 hours. I do not trust handbooks written about new aircraft flown by test pilots. I therefore asked an instructor by reference to the 3-LEG journey I was undertaking what was the endurance of the small aircraft, mentioning the 4 to 6 hours mentioned in manuals. He advised 8 hours. I said ' so 4 or 5 would be fine' and he said 'yes.' I then altered my flight log to assume 5 hours endurance and proceeded to fly the 3 legs. After 3 hours 40 min the aircraft engine stopped. I have since referred to the manual I had in my possession which is widely used in england. It gives 4 hours 30 min endurance and 432 mi for 2000 ft altitude at 2300 RPM. I had covered only 322 mi (subject to any slight track error.) I would have avoided this occurrence if the FBO had given more conservative advice as to the endurance of the aircraft in question or if it's endurance had approximately the published figure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS FORCED LNDG DUE POOR PLANNING AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Narrative: BEFORE STARTING TO RENT ACFT AT FBO I HAD 42 HRS XCOUNTRY EXPERIENCE ON OTHER TYPES AND NIL HRS IN COMMAND ON TYPE SINCE OBTAINING PPL IN JULY 1989. I DID NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE OF SMA ENDURANCE EXCEPT THAT I KNEW THAT HANDBOOKS SPECIFIED PERIODS BTWN 4 AND 6 HRS. I DO NOT TRUST HANDBOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT NEW ACFT FLOWN BY TEST PLTS. I THEREFORE ASKED AN INSTRUCTOR BY REF TO THE 3-LEG JOURNEY I WAS UNDERTAKING WHAT WAS THE ENDURANCE OF THE SMA, MENTIONING THE 4 TO 6 HRS MENTIONED IN MANUALS. HE ADVISED 8 HRS. I SAID ' SO 4 OR 5 WOULD BE FINE' AND HE SAID 'YES.' I THEN ALTERED MY FLT LOG TO ASSUME 5 HRS ENDURANCE AND PROCEEDED TO FLY THE 3 LEGS. AFTER 3 HRS 40 MIN THE ACFT ENG STOPPED. I HAVE SINCE REFERRED TO THE MANUAL I HAD IN MY POSSESSION WHICH IS WIDELY USED IN ENGLAND. IT GIVES 4 HRS 30 MIN ENDURANCE AND 432 MI FOR 2000 FT ALT AT 2300 RPM. I HAD COVERED ONLY 322 MI (SUBJECT TO ANY SLIGHT TRACK ERROR.) I WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS OCCURRENCE IF THE FBO HAD GIVEN MORE CONSERVATIVE ADVICE AS TO THE ENDURANCE OF THE ACFT IN QUESTION OR IF IT'S ENDURANCE HAD APPROX THE PUBLISHED FIGURE.

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.