A citabria pilot reports an off airport landing because of fuel starvation.

Attributes
ACN	773073
Time
Date	200802
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : l84.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Champion Citabria
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	773073
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was flying in a citabria 7GCAA. The airplane engine began to die. I attempted to troubleshoot the airplane; but was unable to keep the engine running. I found a dirt road in an orchard and landed the airplane. The airplane was not damaged in the landing and I was not injured. I later discovered the fuel tanks were empty. I called for help on my cell phone and had some co-workers bring me some gas for the plane. I fueled the plane and took off. I believe part of the problem in the plane running out of fuel is the location of the fuel gauges. They are located above and behind you where the wings are. That makes them out of your normal line of sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CITABRIA PILOT REPORTS AN OFF ARPT LNDG BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING IN A CITABRIA 7GCAA. THE AIRPLANE ENG BEGAN TO DIE. I ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE AIRPLANE; BUT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE ENG RUNNING. I FOUND A DIRT ROAD IN AN ORCHARD AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT DAMAGED IN THE LNDG AND I WAS NOT INJURED. I LATER DISCOVERED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. I CALLED FOR HELP ON MY CELL PHONE AND HAD SOME CO-WORKERS BRING ME SOME GAS FOR THE PLANE. I FUELED THE PLANE AND TOOK OFF. I BELIEVE PART OF THE PROB IN THE PLANE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IS THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL GAUGES. THEY ARE LOCATED ABOVE AND BEHIND YOU WHERE THE WINGS ARE. THAT MAKES THEM OUT OF YOUR NORMAL LINE OF SIGHT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.