C210 PLT MAKES AN OFF ARPT LNDG ON A ROAD AFTER THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative

I HELPED PUSH THE AIRPLANE IN THE HANGAR AFTER TOPPING OFF THE FUEL TANKS; WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TIME I WOULD BE LEAVING THE NEXT MORNING. THE OWNER SAID THAT IT WAS ALL TOPPED OFF AND READY TO GO AND THAT HE WOULDN'T NEED THE AIRPLANE UNTIL MAR/SAT/02. ON FEB/SUN/02 MORNING; MY WIFE; SON; AND I DEPARTED T31 (MCKINNEY; TX) ON A FLT TO SPI. APPROX 10-12 MI FROM THE ARPT; WE RAN OUT OF FUEL AFTER ONLY 2 HRS 45 MINS OF FLYING. THE FUEL GAUGES STILL INDICATED APPROX 20 GALLONS OF FUEL. I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT ON A COUNTRY ROAD. WHEN I CALLED THE OWNER HE STATED THAT HE FORGOT TO TELL ME THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE AIRPLANE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO SHV. IN REFLECTING ON WHAT REALLY CAUSED THE INCIDENT; I CAME UP WITH MY LACK OF PREFLTING BY ACTUALLY CLBING UP AND LOOKING INTO THE FUEL TANKS. I DID DO ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PREFLT; BUT DIDN'T CHK THE TOP BECAUSE I HAD JUST TOPPED IT OFF THE EVENING BEFORE. I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD HAVE CHKED THE FUEL IN THE TOP OF THE TANK; BUT ALSO REALIZE THAT IT'S NEVER JUST ONE THING THAT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT -- IT'S MORE LIKE A CHAIN OF EVENTS. I CERTAINLY WILL NEVER FLY AGAIN WITHOUT PHYSICALLY CHKING THE FUEL QUANTITY.