SMA PHOTO PLT RAN A FUEL TANK DRY WHILE TAKING PHOTOS AT 500 FT AGL.

Narrative

I WAS DOING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AT 500 FT AGL AND ABOUT 2 HRS 50 MINS INTO THE FLT WHEN MY ENG QUIT. DURING THE XCOUNTRY PHASE OF THE FLT; I HAD SWITCHED TO THE L TANK TO EVEN OUT THE WT BUT DIDN'T SWITCH BACK TO BOTH WHEN I DSNDED DOWN TO 500 FT AGL. AFTER THE ENG QUIT; I PITCHED FOR BEST GLIDE AND THEN PICKED MY LNDG AREA. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN I WAS ABLE TO DO AN EMER CHK AND FOUND I WAS STILL ON THE L TANK. AFTER SWITCHING OVER TO THE R TANK; I HAD PWR BUT NO ROOM TO CLB OUT; SO I CONTINUED THE LNDG IN A FIELD. AFTER CHKING THE ACFT FOR DAMAGE I FOUND NONE. AFTER TAXIING OFF OF THE FIELD; I WAS ABLE TO TKOF FROM A NEARBY ROAD. AFTER REVIEWING WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS SITUATION I HAVE IDENTED SEVERAL ERRORS IN MY DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND PROCS. THE BIGGEST ERROR WAS MADE IN NOT USING MY CHKLISTS. I DID MY PRETKOF; TKOF AND CRUISE CHKS BUT DIDN'T DO A DSCNT CHK. SINCE THIS INCIDENT; I HAVE MADE A 500 FT CHK BEFORE I START THE PHOTOGRAPHY; WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO A PREMANEUVER CHK. I NOW USE THIS AT ALL TIMES BEFORE STARTING PHOTOGRAPHY AND CONSIDER IT AS IMPORTANT AS MY PRETKOF CHKS. IN CLOSING; I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF AS A CAREFUL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PLT; BUT UPON REVIEWING THIS INCIDENT I HAVE IDENTED SEVERAL ERRORS IN MY PROCS AND DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND HAS FORCED ME TO REVIEW OTHER ASPECTS OF MY FLYING THAT COULD BE IMPROVED. HOPEFULLY THIS INCIDENT HAS CAUSED ME TO BECOME A BETTER PLT.