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A private pilot on night cross country flight experiences total fuel exhaustion and lands aircraft safely on interstate highway.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 430258 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199903 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : tha.airport |
| State Reference | TN |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | Turbulence |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc tower : dtw.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 150 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 125 flight time type : 50 |
| ASRS Report | 430258 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Fuel gauges showed 1/4 full, which matched fuel calculation. I was using pilotage and missed the airport 50 NM to the northeast (the total trip was 425 NM). That was the human factor that caused the situation resulting in low fuel. However, I still calculated 45 mins reserve, and the fuel gauges agreed with my calculation. I am not certain why the gauges showed fuel, or why the airplane burned faster than reported. I landed on the interstate without incident.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A PVT PLT ON NIGHT XCOUNTRY FLT EXPERIENCES TOTAL FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LANDS ACFT SAFELY ON INTERSTATE HWY.
Narrative: FUEL GAUGES SHOWED 1/4 FULL, WHICH MATCHED FUEL CALCULATION. I WAS USING PILOTAGE AND MISSED THE ARPT 50 NM TO THE NE (THE TOTAL TRIP WAS 425 NM). THAT WAS THE HUMAN FACTOR THAT CAUSED THE SIT RESULTING IN LOW FUEL. HOWEVER, I STILL CALCULATED 45 MINS RESERVE, AND THE FUEL GAUGES AGREED WITH MY CALCULATION. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHY THE GAUGES SHOWED FUEL, OR WHY THE AIRPLANE BURNED FASTER THAN RPTED. I LANDED ON THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT INCIDENT.
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.