PLT OF AN SMA SEL MADE FORCED LNDG AFTER THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative

ON JAN/WED/96; I DEPARTED DET ABOUT XA15Z FOR MY RETURN TRIP TO ALO (WATERLOO; IA). I SWITCHED TANKS AND MONITORED MY FUEL QTY THROUGHOUT THE FLT AND SAVED ABOUT 2 GALS OF FUEL IN THE R TANK (ABOUT 15 MINS OF FLT TIME). AT ABOUT XE35Z; 25 MI E OF ALO; THE L TANK WENT DRY AND THE ENG STARTED TO QUIT. I SWITCHED TANKS AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED TOWARDS IIB WHICH WAS ABOUT 13 MI AWAY. ABOUT 5 MI NE OF IIB; THE SECOND TANK WENT DRY. I REDUCED MY AIRSPD TO 80 KTS FOR MY DSCNT INTO IIB. AT ABOUT 100 FT ABOUT THE GND; I REDUCED MY AIRSPD AND USED FULL FLAPS FOR MY LNDG. ON LNDG ROLL; WE RAN INTO A FENCE WHICH STOPPED OUR FORWARD MOTION. I ASKED MY PAX IF THEY HAD ANY INJURIES AND THEY REPLIED THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY. BUCHANAN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES WERE ON THE SCENE WITHIN 5 MINS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS INCIDENT WERE: MISCALCULATING FUEL BURN RATE; IMPROPERLY LEANING OUT THE ACFT; AND PUTTING TOO MUCH TRUST IN THE FUEL GAUGE. MY SUGGESTION TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE IS TO: 1) LEARN HOW TO PROPERLY LEAN AN ACFT. 2) SET A TIME LIMIT ON HOW MUCH TIME I COULD FLY BEFORE REFUELING (EXAMPLE: 4 HRS). 3) SET A LIMIT OF 20 GALS OF FUEL IN EACH TANK AS A MINIMUM FOR REFUELING (EXAMPLE: 5 GALS IN A 25 GAL TANK). 4) WHEN REACHING 1 HR OF FUEL LEFT; HEAD TOWARDS THE NEAREST ARPT FOR REFUELING.