FUEL EXHAUSTION IN SMA BY STUDENT PLT ON SECOND XCOUNTRY TRIP. EMER OFF ARPT LNDG.

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THE RPTR IS A FLT INSTRUCTOR WHO WAS NOT ON BOARD THE ACFT. THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON HIS SECOND XCOUNTRY SOLO FLT FROM NEW ORLEANS - GULFPORT; MS; TO MCCOMB; MS AND RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS. THE FLT WAS NOT COMPLETED AS PLANNED BECAUSE ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT THE STUDENT EXHAUSTED HIS FUEL SUPPLY AND SAFELY LANDED THE ACFT ON INTERSTATE 12 W; AT EXIT 74. THE STUDENT HAD BECOME LOST IN THE VICINITY OF MCCOMB; MS; DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY FROM THE SMOKE FROM BURNING FIELDS; AND HAZE THAT WAS NOT RPTED ON THE SURFACE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE MCCOMB FSS PRIOR TO HIS DEP. HE WAS GIVEN VERY CLR INSTRUCTIONS FROM HIS FLT INSTRUCTOR ON WHAT TO DO IF UNABLE TO LOCATE THE MCCOMB ARPT. HE WAS TO PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE MCCOMB VOR AND TRACK THE 230 DEG RADIAL TO THE ARPT; 13 MI AND BY PILOTAGE WAS TO PROCEED NO FURTHER W THAN INTERSTATE 55. THE STUDENT PLT WAS ANXIOUS BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED VISIBILITY AND CONTACTED THE MCCOMB FSS WHEN HE WAS OVER THE TYLERTOWN; MS; ARPT (APPROX 15 MI E OF MCCOMB). HE WAS TOLD BY MCCOMB FSS TO FLY W AND HE WOULD SEE THE ARPT. FOR THE NEXT HR OR SO HE WAS DIRECTED BY THE FSS AND AT LEAST 1 CTR CTLR IN ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST THE STUDENT TO FIND THE ARPT. DURING ALL OF THIS; THE STUDENT HAD LOST ALL SENSE OF TIME. HE ALSO WAS NOT WEARING A WRISTWATCH AND IN HIS PREOCCUPATION WITH THE RADIO COMS; TRYING TO LOCATE A LANDMARK TO MATCH WHERE HE THOUGHT HE WAS ON THE SECTIONAL; HE NEGLECTED TO USE THE FUNCTIONING ACFT CLOCK (DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM) ON THE HOBBS METER; OR TO CHK THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATIONS. HE FINALLY LOCATED MCCOMB AND EXECUTED A TOUCH-AND-GO THERE. WHILE ON HIS ROLLOUT HE RPTED TO HIS INSTRUCTOR HE CONSIDERED BUYING GAS BUT VETOED THIS IDEA FOR REASONS NOT GIVEN. 20 MINS LATER HE CROSSED OVER AN ARPT AT ABITA SPRINGS; LA. AGAIN HE RPTED THAT HE CONSIDERED LNDG AND PURCHASING GAS. HE AGAIN VETOED THIS IDEA; ELECTING TO HURRY HOME. APPROX 5 MINS LATER THE ENG QUIT BUT RESTARTED ITSELF WHEN HE PITCHED BACK TO THE BEST GLIDE SPD. HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG ON THE INTERSTATE WITH PWR; AND ON HIS ROLLOUT TAXIED THE ACFT DOWN AN EXIT RAMP SO AS NOT TO IMPAIR TFC AND SECURED THE AIRPLANE. PLT AND ACFT WERE UNDAMAGED. IN CONCLUSION; THE STUDENT PLT WAS SO CONCERNED BY OTHER FACTORS THAT HE NEGLECTED TO BRING HIS ATTN BACK INSIDE THE ACFT WHERE IT BELONGED. HE DID NOT EXECUTE THE FLT THE WAY HE HAD BEEN BRIEFED BY HIS INSTRUCTOR AND HE PASSED UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE GAS ON 2 OCCASIONS; SOMETHING HE WILL NEVER DO AGAIN. AS HIS FLT INSTRUCTOR; I NOW PRESENT MY STUDENTS WITH MY INST TIMER PRIOR TO ENG START; THEY WEAR THE LANYARD AROUND THEIR NECK.