SMA HAS FUEL EXHAUSTION; OFF ARPT LNDG.

Narrative

DEPARTED MQJ WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 65 GALLONS FUEL. L TANK AT BOTTOM OF SLOT; R TANK BOTTOM OF TAB 35 PLUS 30 GALLONS RESPECTIVELY. FLEW TO FFA; IFR TRAINING FLT 2 HR 45 MIN. SHOULD HAVE USED 36 GALLONS. THIS SHOULD HAVE LEFT 29 GALLONS REMAIN (2 HR PLUS). WE DEPARTED FFA FOR A LUNCH AND REFUEL TO CONTINUE TO RIC. OVER POWELLS POINT; FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AND I MADE AN EMER LNDG ON HWY 158 BEING CAREFUL TO NOT HIT ANY WIRES. I COULD NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE OBVIOUS MYSTERY OF HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANKS UNTIL OCT/XX/94 WHEN I DISCOVERED A BLOCKED FUEL TANK VENT ON THE L TANK AND A PARTIALLY CLOGGED TANK THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE L TANK TO INDICATE MORE FUEL THAN WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. THIS IS WHY I AM GIVING YOU THIS RPT NOW. ALSO THE GAS TANKS WERE NOT INDICATING CORRECTLY AS WE WERE ENRTE. THIS DID NOT CONCERN ME AS I HAVE FLOWN MANY HRS BY TIMING MY FUEL AND I REALLY THOUGHT THAT I HAD 65 GALLONS ON BOARD. THE TANKS INDICATED FULL AFTER I MOVED THE WIRES GOING TO THE FUEL GAUGES. AFTER REFILLING THE TANKS AT MQI; THE TERMINALS HAVE BEEN CLEANED AND THE WIRES REATTACHED. I HAVE NEVER HAD FUEL EXHAUSTION IN 46 YRS OF FLYING AND I AM NOT FULLY CONVINCED OF THE REASON FOR THIS INCIDENT. YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT I WILL BE EVEN MORE CAREFUL ABOUT MY FUEL QUANTITY IN THE FUTURE.