Small aircraft runs out of gas and lands on highway.

Attributes
ACN	93277
Time
Date	198808
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : acy
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : acy tower : hou
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6000
ASRS Report	93277
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 600
ASRS Report	93279
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Cancelled IFR flight plan after arriving in the vicinity of acy from bed, for some practice approachs. Was in process of executing the last VOR/DME approach when engine stoppage occurred due apparently to fuel exhaustion. Glide to airport was contradicted because of strong headwinds. The only suitable landing area seen was the garden state parkway which was lit by the headlights of moderate traffic. The dead stick landing was then effected west/O harm or injury to persons or property. Apparent fuel exhaustion occurred after 4.3 hours from engine start when projected book endurance was in excess of 5.0 hours. Fuel gauges read 1/8 tank on both sides at time of occurrence. In the future I will view aircraft flight manual performance charts with much more skepticism.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA RUNS OUT OF GAS AND LANDS ON HIGHWAY.

Narrative: CANCELLED IFR FLT PLAN AFTER ARRIVING IN THE VICINITY OF ACY FROM BED, FOR SOME PRACTICE APCHS. WAS IN PROCESS OF EXECUTING THE LAST VOR/DME APCH WHEN ENG STOPPAGE OCCURRED DUE APPARENTLY TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. GLIDE TO ARPT WAS CONTRADICTED BECAUSE OF STRONG HEADWINDS. THE ONLY SUITABLE LNDG AREA SEEN WAS THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WHICH WAS LIT BY THE HEADLIGHTS OF MODERATE TFC. THE DEAD STICK LNDG WAS THEN EFFECTED W/O HARM OR INJURY TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY. APPARENT FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AFTER 4.3 HOURS FROM ENG START WHEN PROJECTED BOOK ENDURANCE WAS IN EXCESS OF 5.0 HOURS. FUEL GAUGES READ 1/8 TANK ON BOTH SIDES AT TIME OF OCCURRENCE. IN THE FUTURE I WILL VIEW ACFT FLT MANUAL PERFORMANCE CHARTS WITH MUCH MORE SKEPTICISM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.