Engine quit result of fuel starvation.

Attributes
ACN	99123
Time
Date	198811
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gck
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 73 flight time total : 1202
ASRS Report	99123
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : investigated other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft ran out of fuel prior to landing. Engine stopped running. A proper glide angle and speed were established and altitude did not seem sufficient to reach airport. I elected to land on an abandoned roadway. Fuel consumption of aircraft higher than previously experience. Stop and put on more fuel and have fuel gauges to read empty when empty. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: 18 pounds of fuel were indicated on the gauge when the engine quit. Had been in the air 4:28 minutes, total fuel available should have given 5:20 minutes. Cannot explain the 12 gal burn rate experienced. Flight was behind flight plan account headwinds. During approach to the roadway, left wingtip struck tree causing minor damage. FAA involved but giving no problem. Has been scheduled for a flight review check. Aircraft was flown off the road with no problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ENGINE QUIT RESULT OF FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative: ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL PRIOR TO LNDG. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. A PROPER GLIDE ANGLE AND SPEED WERE ESTABLISHED AND ALT DID NOT SEEM SUFFICIENT TO REACH ARPT. I ELECTED TO LAND ON AN ABANDONED ROADWAY. FUEL CONSUMPTION OF ACFT HIGHER THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCE. STOP AND PUT ON MORE FUEL AND HAVE FUEL GAUGES TO READ EMPTY WHEN EMPTY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: 18 LBS OF FUEL WERE INDICATED ON THE GAUGE WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HAD BEEN IN THE AIR 4:28 MINUTES, TOTAL FUEL AVAILABLE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN 5:20 MINUTES. CANNOT EXPLAIN THE 12 GAL BURN RATE EXPERIENCED. FLT WAS BEHIND FLT PLAN ACCOUNT HEADWINDS. DURING APCH TO THE ROADWAY, LEFT WINGTIP STRUCK TREE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. FAA INVOLVED BUT GIVING NO PROBLEM. HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR A FLT REVIEW CHECK. ACFT WAS FLOWN OFF THE ROAD WITH NO PROBLEM.

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.