Narrative:

I intended to land on runway 30 for a fuel stop and overnight stay before continuing to my home base. The trip started in the morning and I had stopped and refueled enroute; filling one main fuel tank and both tip tanks for a total of 79.5 gallons; which would provide 5 1/2 hours of fuel at 14 gph. Enroute I switched tanks approximately every 15 minutes to reduce weight on the tip tanks for landing. While approaching the airport from the west; I had numerous traffic information system (tis) targets within eight miles of the airport. I became preoccupied with the task of obtaining visual contact with the tis reported traffic. During the landing approach; I concentrated on identification of the runway layout as the airport was an unfamiliar airport to me. I slowed the aircraft while approaching; lowered the landing gear and 1/2 flaps; and reported downwind and then left base; announcing my intentions and position over the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). While on short final approach; another aircraft that had been holding short of the runway suddenly moved into position for takeoff. I did not recall if I had reported turning final approach over the CTAF; as is my usual practice. I also did not recall whether the other aircraft reported over the CTAF he was taxiing into position for takeoff. I announced that I was going around and began a right turn away from the runway so as to not overtake the departing aircraft. When I advanced the throttle; the engine stopped. I immediately announced over the CTAF that I had lost power and someone asked whether it was a real loss of power. I replied 'affirmative' and landed in an open field across a river from the approach end. The landing was uneventful; smooth; with no damage to the aircraft or property. After landing; I discovered that the left fuel tip tank read 'empty' and the fuel selector was on the left tip tank. I had inadvertently forgotten to select the main fuel tank prior to landing. The main fuel tank had approximately 30 gallons remaining and the right tip tank had approximately 12 gallons. I was able to start the engine on the ground and reposition the plane to a better location on the field. I believe that the factors involved distraction while approaching an unfamiliar airport; also that I did not use a checklist; resulting in fuel starvation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot on approach executed a go around because of traffic on the runway and because he failed to switch fuel tanks the engine quit from fuel exhaustion so he landed adjacent to the runway without damage.

Narrative: I intended to land on Runway 30 for a fuel stop and overnight stay before continuing to my home base. The trip started in the morning and I had stopped and refueled enroute; filling one main fuel tank and both tip tanks for a total of 79.5 gallons; which would provide 5 1/2 hours of fuel at 14 GPH. Enroute I switched tanks approximately every 15 minutes to reduce weight on the tip tanks for landing. While approaching the airport from the west; I had numerous Traffic Information System (TIS) targets within eight miles of the airport. I became preoccupied with the task of obtaining visual contact with the TIS reported traffic. During the landing approach; I concentrated on identification of the runway layout as the airport was an unfamiliar airport to me. I slowed the aircraft while approaching; lowered the landing gear and 1/2 flaps; and reported downwind and then left base; announcing my intentions and position over the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). While on short final approach; another aircraft that had been holding short of the runway suddenly moved into position for takeoff. I did not recall if I had reported turning final approach over the CTAF; as is my usual practice. I also did not recall whether the other aircraft reported over the CTAF he was taxiing into position for takeoff. I announced that I was going around and began a right turn away from the runway so as to not overtake the departing aircraft. When I advanced the throttle; the engine stopped. I immediately announced over the CTAF that I had lost power and someone asked whether it was a real loss of power. I replied 'affirmative' and landed in an open field across a river from the approach end. The landing was uneventful; smooth; with no damage to the aircraft or property. After landing; I discovered that the left fuel tip tank read 'empty' and the fuel selector was on the left tip tank. I had inadvertently forgotten to select the main fuel tank prior to landing. The main fuel tank had approximately 30 gallons remaining and the right tip tank had approximately 12 gallons. I was able to start the engine on the ground and reposition the plane to a better location on the field. I believe that the factors involved distraction while approaching an unfamiliar airport; also that I did not use a checklist; resulting in fuel starvation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.