GA small aircraft fuel exhaustion and precautionary landing at mis airport.

Attributes
ACN	132445
Time
Date	198912
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cof airport : mlb
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	landing 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 : 75 flight time total : 650 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	132445
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical aircraft equipment problem : less severe incursion : landing without clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

IFR flight plan en route to melbourne, fl on approximately 3 mi from patrick AFB, left engine quit. After examining fuel quantities (auxiliary's showing 10 gals and mains showing 15 gals), I switched back to mains and engine came back. I already started to divert to patrick AFB and made the decision to continue approach and land at patrick AFB. After landing and inspecting the tank, I found it was empty, determining that a faulty gauge was at fault. Probably the most important fact is that I elected to continue my priority approach and land. My decision was based upon not knowing exactly what the problem was. Patrick was the closest airport and that is why I landed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA FUEL EXHAUSTION AND PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT MIS ARPT.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN ENRTE TO MELBOURNE, FL ON APPROX 3 MI FROM PATRICK AFB, LEFT ENG QUIT. AFTER EXAMINING FUEL QUANTITIES (AUX'S SHOWING 10 GALS AND MAINS SHOWING 15 GALS), I SWITCHED BACK TO MAINS AND ENG CAME BACK. I ALREADY STARTED TO DIVERT TO PATRICK AFB AND MADE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE APCH AND LAND AT PATRICK AFB. AFTER LNDG AND INSPECTING THE TANK, I FOUND IT WAS EMPTY, DETERMINING THAT A FAULTY GAUGE WAS AT FAULT. PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT IS THAT I ELECTED TO CONTINUE MY PRIORITY APCH AND LAND. MY DECISION WAS BASED UPON NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THE PROB WAS. PATRICK WAS THE CLOSEST ARPT AND THAT IS WHY I LANDED.

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.