Small aircraft pilot flies IFR to within 2 gallons of usable fuel.

Attributes
ACN	220764
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	220764
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan and flew 4.8 hours. The airplane was just purchased and I went by published fuel burn for 60 percent which should have given me 5.7 hours duration. When I fueled 2 days after landing the plane took 49 gallons of fuel of which 50 is usable. My cockpit fuel gauges indicated 1/4 tanks available on both sides, at landing. The plane did not shut off due to lack of fuel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FLIES IFR TO WITHIN 2 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND FLEW 4.8 HRS. THE AIRPLANE WAS JUST PURCHASED AND I WENT BY PUBLISHED FUEL BURN FOR 60 PERCENT WHICH SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME 5.7 HRS DURATION. WHEN I FUELED 2 DAYS AFTER LNDG THE PLANE TOOK 49 GALLONS OF FUEL OF WHICH 50 IS USABLE. MY COCKPIT FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 1/4 TANKS AVAILABLE ON BOTH SIDES, AT LNDG. THE PLANE DID NOT SHUT OFF DUE TO LACK 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.