Grumman AA-5 Flight Instructor and student pilot reported landing safely in an open field after running out of fuel on a training flight.
Synopsis
Grumman AA-5 Flight Instructor and student pilot reported landing safely in an open field after running out of fuel on a training flight.
Narrative
We arrived at the airport approximately at XA:00 on Day 0. We conducted a standard pre-flight on Aircraft X; weather briefing; and approach briefings prior to the flight. We departed around XA:40. Right here we verified that the left tank wasn't full and could've filled it up prior despite the right wing being fully full; we could've done a better job at the very least verifying that we were not utilizing the left tank for the duration of the flight; and the checklist usage could've been more thorough to catch this. Ultimately him and I were so focused on getting him ready to pass the flight portion of his IFR check ride the next day that it slipped our minds and possibly let the external factors in the situation distract us. However; we departed ZZZ1 to obtain IFR clearance; which we got put on the back burner for a while due to ATC being busy. This ultimately had us task saturated preparing for an approach; dodging clouds trying [to] remain legally VFR; and also trying to listen for and recontact ATC if we were forgotten about. Eventually we got IFR and flew the ILS RWY XX at ZZZ where we went missed; then immediately vectored to ZZZZZ for the RNAV RWY XX at ZZZ2. The weather at ZZZ2 was inoperative and my student was immediately behind the plane and copied the wrong missed instructions where I had to step in and help him correct that and program the approach in appropriately; while still briefing and flying the approach. This in turn had me task saturated which could be where the fuel tank once more was neglected . Right here we should've asked for time to get setup and got some vectors where we could've been more thorough knowing that the airports were close together. Furthermore; we went missed and got vectored immediately onto final for the VOR-A approach at ZZZ1 where we had next to no opportunity to run our checklists thoroughly and were left getting weather on final where we tuned and ID'd a VOR; briefed; and got weather. Right here was another opportunity to ask for delay vectors and receive the proper time to set up for the approach knowing that we were metaphorically drowning. We were going to initially land VFR so we terminated IFR with approach in the sky; but we initiated missed approach for practice for his check ride; so we intercepted the 045 radial toward ZZZZZ1 for the hold around 1600 feet.While over a bay; the engine began to sputter and lost power; which had us on high alert and a little scattered after being task saturated and behind the entire flight. We had a few occurrence's where the aircraft cut out on us before in the sky in the previous week. We were higher and ran the engine out in flight checklist to restart the aircraft and another time where one of my students initial check ride the DPE rejected the aircraft due to a loss of power on takeoff. This had us thinking the engine was out and not going to get restarted likely at such a low altitude. Same situation for run-up we were hyper focused on the magnetos and engine instruments since it had cut out on us prior.We pitched for best glide and identified an open field to the right as the nearest safe landing area with what we estimated was 3 nm of glide at the very best. We performed the engine loss in flight checklist for the Grumman Traveler to the best extent possible given our altitude and proximity to terrain. A forced landing was completed in the field; however our destination was ZZZ1. We executed the engine-out landing checklist for the Grumman Traveler. The aircraft came to rest upright; and there were no injuries; fatalities; or property damage.
Second reporter narrative
Me and my instructor arrived at XA:00 ON Day 0. We did a standard preflight briefing; weather briefing and approach briefings prior to the flight. This was the day before my IFR checkride and this was a fast paced training flight to prepare. We checked the fuel before takeoff; but we could've went full tanks and refueling. We should've done a better job on the preflight and making sure to adjust necessary to the fullest tank. I was focused on passing my IFR checkride that we got very task saturated by flying 3 approaches in close proximity of each airport and got vectored onto final on the last approach. Checklist usage should've been used more and more thorough to identify this error. When we departed ZZZ1 to get an IFR clearance; which took a while from ATC being busy; this led us to being task saturated preparing for an approach; dodging clouds trying to maintain legally VFR. Eventually we got IFR and flew the ILS RWY XX approach; went missed then immediately got vectored to ZZZZZ for the RNAV RWY XX at ZZZ2. Me and my instructor were task saturated as I copied the wrong missed approach instructions from ATC and had to ask them to repeat which had us behind the plane. While still briefing and flying the approach; this could be where the fuel tank was neglected. We should've had asked ATC for more time to set up and get established. We flew the missed procedure for the VOR-A into ZZZ1 and upon entering the hold we heard the engine sputter. At this time my instructor took controls and immediately pitched for best glide. We were over a bay at 1500ft over the water which at this point we had to find the best place to land as safety was the highest priority. We ran through the emergency checklist as much as we could to the best of our ability with the time and altitude we had available. We identified an open field to our right and a forced landing was executed. The aircraft came to rest upright; and there were no injuries; fatalities; or property damage.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.