AN SMA PLT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND LANDED ON A HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WITHOUT INJURY OR DAMAGE.

Narrative

THIS RPT DEALS WITH THE FORCED LNDG THAT TOOK PLACE ON SUN; JUL; AT APPROX HI45; IN PANAMA CITY. THE ACFT WAS LANDED ON THE HIGHWAY 231 OUT OF PANAMA CITY BY THE PLT; DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FUEL. THE FORCED LNDG WAS SUCCESSFUL IN THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO INJURY INCURRED BY ANYONE; NO DAMAGE WAS MADE TO ANY PROPERTY AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DISTURBANCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE FLT ORIGINATED FROM LEWIS ARPT (CEDAR KEY CDK). THE BRIEFER INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS SOME BAD WX ON THE WAY INTO THE DEST ARPT. USING THIS DIP STICK; HE NOTED THAT HE HAD JUST UNDER 7 GALLONS IN ONE TANK AND JUST OVER 7 GALLONS IN THE OTHER. HE THEN CALCULATED THAT WITH 14 GALLONS; AT A BURN RATE OF 5.5 GALLONS PER HR; HE WOULD HAVE 2 HRS AND 35 MINS OF FLYING TIME. HE THEN ESTIMATED THAT HIS AVERAGE GND SPD WOULD BE 90 KTS. WITH THESE FIGURES; HE CALCULATED THAT THE FLT SHOULD TAKE HIM 1 HR AND 50 MINS. THIS WOULD GIVE HIM TIME TO FLY TO THE AIRFIELD AND ALLOW FOR THE 45 MINS NIGHT RESERVE. ONCE THE PIC HAD PANAMA CITY IN SIGHT; HE INFORMED APCH AND CONTACTED PANAMA CITY TWR. APPROX 7 MI AWAY FROM THE AIRFIELD; THE ENG SPUTTERED AND STOPPED. THE PIC INFORMED TWR THAT HE HAD A FULL ENG FAILURE. HE NOTED THAT THE ENG HAD STOPPED AFTER APPROX 1:50 MINS ACCORDING TO HIS STOP WATCH. TO CONFIRM THAT HE HAD THE AIRFIELD IN SIGHT; HE ASKED TWR FOR A VECTOR TO THE AIRFIELD. IT LOOKED LIKE THE ACFT WAS GOING TO MAKE THE AIRFIELD WHEN IT SUDDENLY HIT A POCKET OF HOT AIR. THIS IS WHEN THE PIC TOLD TWR THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRFIELD BUT THERE WAS SOME LARGE ROADS THERE. THE PIC DECIDED THE SAFEST PLACE TO PUT DOWN WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ROAD WAS WELL ILLUMINATED AND THE PIC COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS NO OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE PROPOSED TOUCH DOWN POINT. THE PIC DROVE THE ACFT OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE CENTRAL RESERVATION SO AS TO CLR THE ROAD. ONCE DOWN AND COMS TO TWR HAD CEASED; THE PIC TURNED THE MASTERS OFF AND WAITED FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO ARRIVE. LATER THE POLICE AND MANY OTHER OFFICIALS TURNED UP. THE PIC WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAA AND THE NTSB HAD BEEN INFORMED. THE NEXT MORNING; THE ACFT WAS FLOWN OFF THE ROAD BY THE OWNER. THE PIC THEN FLEW THE ACFT BACK TO ENTERPRISE; AL.