Corp pilot in an small aircraft runs tanks dry and cannot restart engine. Receives vectors to neares...

Attributes
ACN	352404
Time
Date	199611
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iah airport : 2xs3 airport : hou
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iah
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	352404
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on approach to houston hobby airport on an IFR flight plan in a new A36 bonanza, I accidentally ran the left fuel tank dry, causing engine failure. Because I thought I was on the right tank at the time, I was initially confused about how much fuel was in each tank, and suspected my left fuel gauge was inaccurate. I tried the emergency procedures, including switching fuel tanks, using the boost pump, enriching the mixture, and checking the magnetos, but I was unable to restart the engine. (The right wing fuel tank was approximately one half full.) my failure to restart the engine may have been partly due to my initial excitement in the situation, lack of patience, and confusion. I then declared an emergency, received vectors to the nearest airport (mayfield, north houston) and was able to make a power-off landing on the runway without any damage to the airplane or to myself. I was fortunate in being able to do this, but extremely disappointed in myself in that I had not been able to get the engine running again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP PLT IN AN SMA RUNS TANKS DRY AND CANNOT RESTART ENG. RECEIVES VECTORS TO NEAREST ARPT AND LANDS SAFELY. RPTR THOUGHT HE WAS ON OTHER TANK.

Narrative: WHILE ON APCH TO HOUSTON HOBBY ARPT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN A NEW A36 BONANZA, I ACCIDENTALLY RAN THE L FUEL TANK DRY, CAUSING ENG FAILURE. BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS ON THE R TANK AT THE TIME, I WAS INITIALLY CONFUSED ABOUT HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN EACH TANK, AND SUSPECTED MY L FUEL GAUGE WAS INACCURATE. I TRIED THE EMER PROCS, INCLUDING SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, USING THE BOOST PUMP, ENRICHING THE MIXTURE, AND CHKING THE MAGNETOS, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. (THE R WING FUEL TANK WAS APPROX ONE HALF FULL.) MY FAILURE TO RESTART THE ENG MAY HAVE BEEN PARTLY DUE TO MY INITIAL EXCITEMENT IN THE SIT, LACK OF PATIENCE, AND CONFUSION. I THEN DECLARED AN EMER, RECEIVED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT (MAYFIELD, NORTH HOUSTON) AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE A PWR-OFF LNDG ON THE RWY WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE OR TO MYSELF. I WAS FORTUNATE IN BEING ABLE TO DO THIS, BUT EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF IN THAT I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE ENG RUNNING AGAIN.

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.

Corp pilot in an small aircraft runs tanks dry and cannot restart engine. Receives vectors to nearest airport and lands safely. Reporter thought he was on other tank.