Private pilot of C152 runs out of fuel during night flight. Lands on highway.

Attributes
ACN	325353
Time
Date	199601
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lnk
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	325353
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states he does not understand why he did not have enough fuel for his trip. There were no headwinds, just light winds. He planned to arrive at the airport in about 6 mins when the engine sputtered. He immediately headed for the highway since he knew the area and located it right away even though it was night. He had planned for 3.9 flight hours and ran out of fuel at 3.3 hours. He does not use the gauges, just time as his measure. His landing was good and no damage to the aircraft. A passing motorist had a cell phone, he called the airport and they brought fuel to him. It took 24.1 gals which is the usable fuel for the C152. The FAA noticed that his bi-annual flight review had expired just a few days before, so he was flying in violation. They indicated they will probably suspend his certificate for 30 days but it will be 6 months before they can get the paperwork completed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF C152 RUNS OUT OF FUEL DURING NIGHT FLT. LANDS ON HWY.

Narrative: CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUEL FOR HIS TRIP. THERE WERE NO HEADWINDS, JUST LIGHT WINDS. HE PLANNED TO ARRIVE AT THE ARPT IN ABOUT 6 MINS WHEN THE ENG SPUTTERED. HE IMMEDIATELY HEADED FOR THE HWY SINCE HE KNEW THE AREA AND LOCATED IT RIGHT AWAY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NIGHT. HE HAD PLANNED FOR 3.9 FLT HRS AND RAN OUT OF FUEL AT 3.3 HRS. HE DOES NOT USE THE GAUGES, JUST TIME AS HIS MEASURE. HIS LNDG WAS GOOD AND NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. A PASSING MOTORIST HAD A CELL PHONE, HE CALLED THE ARPT AND THEY BROUGHT FUEL TO HIM. IT TOOK 24.1 GALS WHICH IS THE USABLE FUEL FOR THE C152. THE FAA NOTICED THAT HIS BI-ANNUAL FLT REVIEW HAD EXPIRED JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE, SO HE WAS FLYING IN VIOLATION. THEY INDICATED THEY WILL PROBABLY SUSPEND HIS CERTIFICATE FOR 30 DAYS BUT IT WILL BE 6 MONTHS BEFORE THEY CAN GET THE PAPERWORK COMPLETED.

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.