SMA PLT DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE ARPT AFTER DISCOVERING THAT FUEL REMAINING WAS NOT ADEQUATE FOR CONTINUATION OF FLT.

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I READ WITH GREAT CHAGRIN; PART 2 OF FUEL MGMNT IN JAN/92 CALLBACK. MY ONLY THOUGHT WAS 'MOST OF THE ABOVE.' THE SCENARIO -- IFR FLT BNA; WEST POINT; MS. THIN OVCST AT 2500; CLR ABOVE. TANKS 1/2 FULL AT PREFLT; TAXI TO FUEL RAMP -- WATCH TRUCK TOP TANKS -- FUEL AMOUNT APPROPRIATE -- TAXI OUT -- GAUGES OK -- CLBING THROUGH OVCST; NOTICE GAUGES UNEQUAL; LH GAUGE 1/2 FULL; RH GAUGE 1/8 TO 1/4. CALLED ATC FOR NEAREST ARPT -- 1 ARPT AT 12 O'CLOCK 20 MI AND 1 AT 3 O'CLOCK 4 MI. DECIDED ON LATTER -- LANDED UNEVENTFULLY -- CHKED TANKS -- RH CAP MISSING BUT COVER PLATE OVER CAP CORRECTLY IN PLACE -- PUT 47 GALLONS IN 54 GALLON TANKS (20 MIN OF FLT TIME) -- GOT NEW CAP; COMPLETED TRIP AND RETURNED HOME WITH NORMAL OP. DID 2 THINGS WHEN I GOT BACK TO HOME BASE: (1) FOUND MY FUEL CAP STILL ON RUNNING BOARD OF GAS TRUCK; (2) INSTALLED FUSELAGE AND STRUT STEPS AND PERMANENTLY REMOVED FUEL CAP COVER PLATES. ACFT TYPE SMA. PLT EXPERIENCE -- 40 YRS -- COMMERCIAL; INST; TYPE RATING 10000 PLUS HRS -- ALL OF WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN FOR NAUGHT DUE TO 1 STUPID MISTAKE.