Narrative:

During my return flight to spg, I reported low fuel due to the operation of the fuel gauges and my interpretation of them. While on flight following, I requested vectors to the nearest airport for a visual inspection of the fuel situation. The following notes describe the occurrence. This is also an exact copy of my report to the FAA. They are taking further action. This was my first cross country flight in this aircraft. I had 1 hour in this aircraft prior to my departure. Departed spg with full tanks arriving at tmb. Added 7 gallons of gas at tmb topping off 1 tank. Departed tmb. Planned to switch fuel tanks with 1/4 fuel remaining. Fuel gauge moved from 3/8 to 1/8 very quickly. Switched to tank showing 1/2 fuel remaining. Fuel gauge moved from 1/2 to 3/8 quicker than I anticipated. I became concerned and elected to land at the closest airport. Landed at pgd to evaluate situation. Added 9 gallons of fuel topping off 1 tank and another 6 gallons to the other tank. Conducted a thorough preflight. Returned to spg. Reported to flying club. Evaluation was that I may have misinterpreted the gauges and overreacted. Although I did not declare an emergency situation during the occurrence, ZMA reported it as an emergency.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT CONCERNED REF FUEL QUANTITY INDICATIONS. MAKES PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. ARTCC RPTS EMER.

Narrative: DURING MY RETURN FLT TO SPG, I RPTED LOW FUEL DUE TO THE OP OF THE FUEL GAUGES AND MY INTERP OF THEM. WHILE ON FLT FOLLOWING, I REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT FOR A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SIT. THE FOLLOWING NOTES DESCRIBE THE OCCURRENCE. THIS IS ALSO AN EXACT COPY OF MY RPT TO THE FAA. THEY ARE TAKING FURTHER ACTION. THIS WAS MY FIRST XCOUNTRY FLT IN THIS ACFT. I HAD 1 HR IN THIS ACFT PRIOR TO MY DEP. DEPARTED SPG WITH FULL TANKS ARRIVING AT TMB. ADDED 7 GALLONS OF GAS AT TMB TOPPING OFF 1 TANK. DEPARTED TMB. PLANNED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS WITH 1/4 FUEL REMAINING. FUEL GAUGE MOVED FROM 3/8 TO 1/8 VERY QUICKLY. SWITCHED TO TANK SHOWING 1/2 FUEL REMAINING. FUEL GAUGE MOVED FROM 1/2 TO 3/8 QUICKER THAN I ANTICIPATED. I BECAME CONCERNED AND ELECTED TO LAND AT THE CLOSEST ARPT. LANDED AT PGD TO EVALUATE SIT. ADDED 9 GALLONS OF FUEL TOPPING OFF 1 TANK AND ANOTHER 6 GALLONS TO THE OTHER TANK. CONDUCTED A THOROUGH PREFLT. RETURNED TO SPG. RPTED TO FLYING CLUB. EVALUATION WAS THAT I MAY HAVE MISINTERPRETED THE GAUGES AND OVERREACTED. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER SIT DURING THE OCCURRENCE, ZMA RPTED IT AS AN EMER.

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.