SMA FLT PLANNED VFR TO PTB WITH A FUEL STOP AT DCU. CRUISING AT 11500 FT NO OXYGEN; THOUGHT FUEL BURN WAS SUCH TO OVERFLY PLANNED STOP AND CONTINUE TO CHA. 25 MI W OF GQO ENG QUIT FUEL EXHAUSTION. ADVISED CHA APCH CTL DIVERTING TO APT AND LANDED OK ON RWY 22. REFUELED AND CONTINUED TO DEST WITH ADEQUATE RESERVE.

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FLT PLANNED VFR FROM 2X53 (HOME BASE) NW OF HOUSTON; TX; TO PTB IN PETERSBURG; VA; WITH FUEL STOP AT DCU DECATUR; AL; FOR THANKSGIVING VACATION. WT CALCULATED TO BE 12 LBS OVER GROSS WT LIMIT WITH FULL FUEL; SO FUEL LOADED 1 GAL LESS IN EACH WING TANK (2). TAILWIND FORECAST 25 KTS. CRUISED AT 11500 FT MSL; WITH ABOUT 13 KT TAILWIND; COMPARING AIRSPD TO GPS GND SPD. FIRST FLT ABOVE 7500 FT SINCE ENG OVERHAUL; SO LEAN MIXTURE MADE FUEL CONSUMPTION APPEAR LOWER THAN OTHER FLTS AT LOWER ALTS. MAJOR MISTAKE: RECALCULATED RANGE WHEN 50 MI E OF GREENWOOD; MS; (FORGETTING FUEL TANKS WERE NOT TOPPED OFF) AND CHANGED PLANNED FUEL STOP TO CHATTANOOGA; TN. MILD HYPOXIA AT 11500 FT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ERROR. AFTER PASSING PLANNED STOP; THINKING THERE WAS 90 MINS FUEL LEFT FOR 60 MINS NO-WIND FLT; THE TAILWIND GAVE FALSE CONFIDENCE. SEVERAL SUITABLE REFUELING STOPS WERE PASSED UP AS I FIXATED ON PROVING THE RANGE THAT WAS CALCULATED. WHEN THE L TANK RAN DRY; I FINALLY REALIZED JUST HOW SERIOUS MY MISTAKE WAS. I CONTACTED CHATTANOOGA TRACON AND ADVISED MY INTENTIONS AND LOW FUEL STATUS. WHEN THE R TANK UNPORTED IN THE DSCNT ALT I DIVERTED TO APT (MARION COUNTY-BROWN ARPT IN JASPER; TN) WITH ENOUGH ALT TO GLIDE TO A NORMAL LNDG ON RWY 22; COASTING ONTO A TXWY; FROM WHERE THE ACFT WAS TOWED TO THE FUEL PUMPS. THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT INCIDENT; BUT WITH FAT FUEL RESERVES. I AM FORTUNATE THAT MY STUPIDITY IN TAKING SUCH A RISK UNNECESSARILY DID NOT LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY; AS IT SO EASILY COULD HAVE. I WILL NEVER AGAIN CHANGE A FLT PLAN TO A LESS CONSERVATIVE ALTERNATIVE; NOR WILL I TRY TO OPERATE IN SUCH A WAY THAT ONLY MINIMUM LEGAL FUEL RESERVES WILL REMAIN IF THE PLAN WORKS AS PLANNED. I REALIZE THAT MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THIS ARROGANT GAMBLE. SUMMARY: FLT PLANNED NEAR MAX RANGE; FUEL LOAD SLIGHTLY REDUCED; UNCERTAINTY OF FUEL FLOW AT ALT; TAILWIND; MILD HYPOXIA CLOUDED JUDGEMENT; CHANGED DEST TO LESS CONSERVATIVE CHOICE; DESIRE TO PROVE ACFT RANGE; LATE TO ADMIT ERROR; FACE SIT; AND LAND AT NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. THIS WAS ALSO THE FIRST LONG XCOUNTRY FLT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IN TWO AND ONE HALF YRS; SO I WAS NOT IN PRACTICE FOR PLANNING ACTIVITIES.