Enroute to lot, left engine ran out of fuel. Declared emergency and diverted to ikk.

Attributes
ACN	101679
Time
Date	198901
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ikk
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	101679
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During an IFR flight from philadelphia, PA to lewis university, il, I ran low on fuel for left engine, it stopped. I declared an emergency and made an uneventful landing at ikk for fuel. Reasons for error: excessive use of fuel by cabin heater, preflight fueling was done on an unlevel ramp and left tank was not full. Upon fueling, left side required 10 more gallons than right side. Note: I purchased aircraft 1 week before this problem. Unfamiliarity of aircraft did contribute to this situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ENROUTE TO LOT, LEFT ENGINE RAN OUT OF FUEL. DECLARED EMERGENCY AND DIVERTED TO IKK.

Narrative: DURING AN IFR FLT FROM PHILADELPHIA, PA TO LEWIS UNIVERSITY, IL, I RAN LOW ON FUEL FOR L ENG, IT STOPPED. I DECLARED AN EMER AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT IKK FOR FUEL. REASONS FOR ERROR: EXCESSIVE USE OF FUEL BY CABIN HEATER, PREFLT FUELING WAS DONE ON AN UNLEVEL RAMP AND L TANK WAS NOT FULL. UPON FUELING, L SIDE REQUIRED 10 MORE GALLONS THAN R SIDE. NOTE: I PURCHASED ACFT 1 WEEK BEFORE THIS PROB. UNFAMILIARITY OF ACFT DID CONTRIBUTE TO THIS SITUATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.