OFF ARPT LNDG DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Narrative

I MADE A FLT FROM KEY W TO ALBERT WHITTED ARPT ON DEC/XX/94. THE FLT WAS MADE IN A PIPER ARCHER. I FLT PLANNED THE PLANE TO BURN 10 GALLONS PER HR AT 65 PERCENT PWR. THE ACFT HAD 2 HRS LESS THAN FULL FUEL; WHICH I VISUALLY CHKED AT MY DEP POINT. DURING THE COURSE OF THE FLT; AS I APCHED SARASOTA WHERE I WAS PLANNING A FUEL STOP; THE ENG QUIT FROM APPARENT FUEL EXHAUSTION ON THE L FUEL TANK. I SWITCHED TO THE R TANK; BUT THE ENG FAILED TO RESTART. I WAS SURPRISED THAT; AFTER LESS THAN 4 HRS OF FLT TIME; I WAS FACED WITH POSSIBLE FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE L TANK AT THE TIME OF APPARENT FUEL EXHAUSTION I WAS INDICATING JUST LESS THAN 5 GALLONS. I QUICKLY STARTED LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE LNDG AREA; WHICH AT PATTERN ALT LEFT ME WITH VERY FEW OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. AFTER VIEWING THE SURROUNDING AREA; I DECIDED TO MAKE THE FORCED LNDG ON A ROAD. THIS CHOICE SEEMED TO BE THE ONLY AVAILABLE ONE. I WENT TO MY BEST GLIDE SPD IN THE ARCHER AND SET UP A STRAIGHT-IN APCH TO 12TH ST IN SARASOTA. IN MY DSCNT; I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID ANY OBSTRUCTIONS. I WAS FACED WITH A LNDG AREA THAT; ON THE N SIDE OF THE STREET; HAD CONCRETE PILLARS WHICH SUPPORTED PWRLINES AND STREET LIGHTS. I TRIED TO STAY TO THE R OF THESE OBSTACLES WHILE TRYING TO STAY AS CLOSE TO THE MEDIAN AS I COULD AVOID CARS DRIVING ON THE STREET. THE ACFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE L WING DURING ROLLOUT FROM A SIGN LOCATED IN THE MEDIAN OF THE ROAD. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN; I APPLIED BRAKES FIRMLY TO ENSURE I WOULD STOP BEFORE THE INTXN OF UNITED STATES 301. ONCE THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP; I TURNED OFF THE FUEL SELECTOR AND ELECTRICAL EQUIP.