C152 PLT RAN OUT OF GAS AND MADE A FORCED LNDG ON A ROAD NEAR 3B9.
Synopsis
C152 PLT RAN OUT OF GAS AND MADE A FORCED LNDG ON A ROAD NEAR 3B9.
Narrative
ON OCT/XA/00 I WAS PLANNING TO FLY AT XB30 IN A C152. WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT RETURNED FROM THEIR LESSON IN THE C152 AT XA50 I ASKED THE LINE CREW; TO FUEL UP THE C152. HE SAID HE WOULD AFTER HE DID SOMETHING WITH ANOTHER PLANE. I DID MY PREFLT WHICH INCLUDED TURNING ON THE MASTER AND CHKING THE FUEL GAUGE. THE GAUGES SHOWED FULL. I VISUALLY CHKED THE WINGS FOR FUEL. THEY APPEARED TO BE APPROX 1 INCH DOWN. AFTER COMPLETING MY PREFLT; I TAXIED OUT AT ABOUT XB55. I FLEW TO NEW HAVEN AND PICKED UP A FRIEND. WE THEN FLEW TO CHESTER; LANDED AND TOOK OFF; THEN LANDED AT GROTON. WE TAXIED TOWARDS THE FUEL PUMPS. I THOUGHT I MIGHT GET FUEL; BUT THERE WAS A C310 THERE AND IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN TOO MUCH TIME. I AGAIN VISUALLY CHKED THE TANKS. THEY LOOKED A LITTLE LOWER BUT I FIGURED I'D ONLY FLOWN FOR APPROX 1 HR 50 MINS AND I HAD BEEN FUELED IN DANBURY. I THOUGHT I HAD 4 HRS AND I WOULD RETURN TO NEW HAVEN TO DROP OFF MY FRIEND AND GET FUEL THERE BEFORE RETURNING TO DANBURY. AFTER TAKING OFF FROM GROTON; I CLBED OUT TO 2400 FT AND WAS GOING TO FLY DIRECTLY TO NEW HAVEN ALONG THE COAST. AFTER XING THE CONNECTICUT RIVER; THE ENG SPUTTERED. I PULLED ON CARB HEAT AND FULL THROTTLE. THE ENG SEEMED TO RUN SMOOTH. I TURNED TO CHESTER AT THAT TIME. I ALSO STARTED LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE IF I NEEDED ONE. THE ENG SPUTTERED AGAIN; I DID A MAGNETO CHK. I RADIOED CHESTER AND TOLD THEM I WAS EXPERIENCING ENG TROUBLE AND WAS COMING IN. THE ENG THEN STOPPED ALTOGETHER. I SET UP FOR MY BEST RATE OF GLIDE. I HAD BEEN LOOKING ALL THE TIME FOR A SAFE PLACE TO LAND. I TRIED TO START THE ENG AGAIN. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING BUT THE 3 LANE ROAD. THE CARS WERE SEPARATED. I ALIGNED UP A SAFE DISTANCE BEHIND A CAR IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND TOUCHED DOWN SAFELY. I ROLLED OFF AS FAR AS I COULD TO THE R. THERE WASN'T ANY DAMAGE DONE TO ANY PEOPLE OR VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN IN CO BTWN MYSELF AND THE LINE CREW. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN AWARE OF A PLANE NOT BEING FUELED. I SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED THAT IN FACT I HAD BEEN FUELED. I PRESUMED I HAD 4 HRS OF FLT TIME. I NOW OWN A DIPSTICK.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.