FUEL EXHAUSTION IN AN SMA CREATES AN EMER FORCED OFF ARPT LNDG.

Date: 1992-03 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|other-unspecified

Synopsis

FUEL EXHAUSTION IN AN SMA CREATES AN EMER FORCED OFF ARPT LNDG.

Narrative

I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR 10 YRS; THE LAST 2 YRS WITH AN INST TICKET. I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM LEESBURG; FL TO MOLINE; IL WITH MY 14 YR OLD DAUGHTER ALONG. WE WERE GOING TO STOP IN CHATTANOOGA FOR FUEL. I RAN OUT OF FUEL 8 MI FROM CHA AND PUT MY SMA DOWN IN A FIELD. ALL OF MY PAST PRACTICE FOR FORCED LNDGS HAD PAID OFF. I LANDED WITH NO DAMAGE TO ME; MY DAUGHTER; OR TO MY AIRPLANE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 4 HR TRIP. MY PLANE AVERAGES 9 GALLONS PER HR USE ON CRUISE. I HAVE 48 USABLE ON BOARD SO I FIGURE 5 HRS ON BOARD. THIS SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ME TO CHA. I DID HAVE A 20 MPH HEADWIND; BUT EVEN WITH WIND I WAS STILL GOING OVER 102 KTS. THE TRIP FROM LEE TO CHA IS 402 MI. I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE FUEL. I AM STILL TRYING TO GO BACK THROUGH MY OWNER'S GUIDE AND CHARTS TO FIGURE IF I HAD MADE A MISTAKE ON FUEL USAGE ON CLBOUT. AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND AM UNSURE THE WHOLE REASON FOR THE FUEL EXHAUSTION. I AM SURE OF 1 THING. I WILL NEVER TRUST TIME ALONE WHEN THE GAUGES ARE SHOWING A LOW FUEL SITUATION.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.