Narrative:

While in cruise at 6500MSL right fuel tank was indicating below 1/4 full; left tank was indicating 3/4 full. Turned fuel selector to run on the left tank and did so for about 20 minutes. Turned fuel selector back to the both position. Approximately 2-5minutes later engine power began to fluctuate. Fuel pressure gauge indicated 0. Checked fuel selector both; mixture rich; carburetor heat on; magnetos both; primer locked; master on. Established best glide turned south towards the nearest airport. Engine continued to make power fluctuations. Oil pressure and temp were still indicating in the green. Made initial 'mayday' call on approach control but was over 70NM away from the airport and was unable to understand their response. Switched to 121.5 and tuned 7700 in the transponder. Made [another] 'mayday' call and was answered by a commercial jet flight to whom I gave an approximate position. Pulled out the emergency checklist and ran through it. Once complete the airplane was about 800-1;000 AGL. I located a landing spot and began maneuvering to land. I dropped the gear and flaps on short final; pulled the mixture to idle cutoff. Spotted car tracks in the field and made a short slipping turn to line up on it. I continued the slip into the round-out. Landed and began braking. Once stopped; I relayed a latitude/long position to the air carrier flight who forwarded it to a nearby helicopter who gave an ETA of 15mins. Secured the airplane and got out. Checked the fuel tanks before leaving and there was visible fuel in both tanks. Airplane had 8 hours since overhaul/rebuild. Flight was conducted with a company flight plan.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 RG pilot landed in a field when the engine failed.

Narrative: While in cruise at 6500MSL right fuel tank was indicating below 1/4 full; left tank was indicating 3/4 full. Turned fuel selector to run on the left tank and did so for about 20 minutes. Turned fuel selector back to the BOTH position. Approximately 2-5minutes later engine power began to fluctuate. Fuel pressure gauge indicated 0. Checked fuel selector BOTH; mixture rich; carburetor heat on; magnetos both; primer locked; master on. Established best glide turned south towards the nearest airport. Engine continued to make power fluctuations. Oil pressure and temp were still indicating in the green. Made initial 'Mayday' call on Approach Control but was over 70NM away from the airport and was unable to understand their response. Switched to 121.5 and tuned 7700 in the transponder. Made [another] 'Mayday' call and was answered by a commercial jet flight to whom I gave an approximate position. Pulled out the emergency checklist and ran through it. Once complete the airplane was about 800-1;000 AGL. I located a landing spot and began maneuvering to land. I dropped the gear and flaps on short final; pulled the mixture to idle cutoff. Spotted car tracks in the field and made a short slipping turn to line up on it. I continued the slip into the round-out. Landed and began braking. Once stopped; I relayed a LAT/LONG position to the air carrier flight who forwarded it to a nearby helicopter who gave an ETA of 15mins. Secured the airplane and got out. Checked the fuel tanks before leaving and there was visible fuel in both tanks. Airplane had 8 hours since overhaul/rebuild. Flight was conducted with a company flight plan.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.