Small aircraft runs out of fuel on final approach, but manages to stretch it to the runway.

Attributes
ACN	140110
Time
Date	199003
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pbi
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pbi artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 231 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	140110
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was vectored by ATC up and down from 4000 to 1000' to get by a front and had a headwind unexpected of 25 KTS. When I was over ft pierce, I noticed my fuel gauges were reading 1/4 tanks. When I was 7 mi from pbi. ATC wanted to vector me around some more storms. I told them my tank read 1/8 so they said we'll get you right in. When I was on final 1.7 mi from end of runway my engine quit. I told ATC. He asked me if I could see the fl turnpike. I said, 'yes.' he said, 'can you make ?' I said, 'I'll try,' so I banked to the right hard. When I leveled the wings the engine started so I gained altitude as fast as I could. I saw then I could make the runway, so I called ATC and told him I could reach the runway, that I had enough altitude now. The engine stopped again, on final, but I had enough altitude. Landed safely and pulled of on to taxiway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA RUNS OUT OF FUEL ON FINAL APCH, BUT MANAGES TO STRETCH IT TO THE RWY.

Narrative: I WAS VECTORED BY ATC UP AND DOWN FROM 4000 TO 1000' TO GET BY A FRONT AND HAD A HEADWIND UNEXPECTED OF 25 KTS. WHEN I WAS OVER FT PIERCE, I NOTICED MY FUEL GAUGES WERE READING 1/4 TANKS. WHEN I WAS 7 MI FROM PBI. ATC WANTED TO VECTOR ME AROUND SOME MORE STORMS. I TOLD THEM MY TANK READ 1/8 SO THEY SAID WE'LL GET YOU RIGHT IN. WHEN I WAS ON FINAL 1.7 MI FROM END OF RWY MY ENG QUIT. I TOLD ATC. HE ASKED ME IF I COULD SEE THE FL TURNPIKE. I SAID, 'YES.' HE SAID, 'CAN YOU MAKE ?' I SAID, 'I'LL TRY,' SO I BANKED TO THE RIGHT HARD. WHEN I LEVELED THE WINGS THE ENG STARTED SO I GAINED ALT AS FAST AS I COULD. I SAW THEN I COULD MAKE THE RWY, SO I CALLED ATC AND TOLD HIM I COULD REACH THE RWY, THAT I HAD ENOUGH ALT NOW. THE ENG STOPPED AGAIN, ON FINAL, BUT I HAD ENOUGH ALT. LANDED SAFELY AND PULLED OF ON TO TXWY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.