C182 pilot reported executing a forced landing following engine failure related to fuel starvation.

Attributes
ACN	1676288
Time
Date	201908
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 2 Flight Crew Total 1200 Flight Crew Type 1000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Narrative:

While enroute on a personal flight; at 6500 ft [the] engine quit. ATC directed me toward [an alternate airport] at a heading of 300. I realized quickly that I could not see the airport and was heading deeper into mountains with fewer landing options. I turned eastward and began searching for best possible landing spot. Nothing appeared perfect so when I had lost altitude to the point that I needed to land; I chose the best spot within reach and landed there. I chose to direct 100% of my attention to safely landing the airplane and delay troubleshooting until after the landing. After safely landing the aircraft with no injuries and no damage I found that the fuel selector valve was on the right tank. I normally operate with fuel selector on both. The right tank position was unintentional. I transported an additional 9 gallons of fuel to the aircraft to assure a safe margin. Selected an appropriate take-off area and departed the field the following day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 pilot reported executing a forced landing following engine failure related to fuel starvation.

Narrative: While enroute on a personal flight; at 6500 ft [the] engine quit. ATC directed me toward [an alternate airport] at a heading of 300. I realized quickly that I could not see the airport and was heading deeper into mountains with fewer landing options. I turned eastward and began searching for best possible landing spot. Nothing appeared perfect so when I had lost altitude to the point that I needed to land; I chose the best spot within reach and landed there. I chose to direct 100% of my attention to safely landing the airplane and delay troubleshooting until after the landing. After safely landing the aircraft with no injuries and no damage I found that the fuel selector valve was on the right tank. I normally operate with fuel selector on BOTH. The RIGHT TANK position was unintentional. I transported an additional 9 gallons of fuel to the aircraft to assure a safe margin. Selected an appropriate take-off area and departed the field the following day.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.