GA small aircraft fuel exhaustion causes off airport landing.

Attributes
ACN	169685
Time
Date	199102
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mhk
State Reference	KS
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 8 flight time total : 860 flight time type : 8
ASRS Report	169685
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : ground less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on short final to runway 21 at mhk. I applied carburetor heat and engine began running very rough. I returned mixture to full rich before applying carburetor heat or making any power changes. I pushed the carburetor heat back in and engine ran smoothly again. Again I applied carburetor heat. Engine seemed to respond normally, then suddenly died. I was too far west/O power to make the runway. I landed short in plowed field about 200 yds from runway end. No damage to aircraft or me. A lot of damage to my pride. I had 3 hours and 25 mins on my watch when engine failed. I had given my kids a ride before leaving and encountered stronger headwinds 50 mi from airport. The FBO had not told me how much fuel he put in the aircraft, if any after occurrence. I am not sure, but am almost certain that I ran out of gas. At first I thought I had carburetor ice, but after sitting down and thinking all of the events through completely, I am certain I ran out of gas.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA FUEL EXHAUSTION CAUSES OFF ARPT LNDG.

Narrative: I WAS ON SHORT FINAL TO RWY 21 AT MHK. I APPLIED CARB HEAT AND ENG BEGAN RUNNING VERY ROUGH. I RETURNED MIXTURE TO FULL RICH BEFORE APPLYING CARB HEAT OR MAKING ANY PWR CHANGES. I PUSHED THE CARB HEAT BACK IN AND ENG RAN SMOOTHLY AGAIN. AGAIN I APPLIED CARB HEAT. ENG SEEMED TO RESPOND NORMALLY, THEN SUDDENLY DIED. I WAS TOO FAR W/O PWR TO MAKE THE RWY. I LANDED SHORT IN PLOWED FIELD ABOUT 200 YDS FROM RWY END. NO DAMAGE TO ACFT OR ME. A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MY PRIDE. I HAD 3 HRS AND 25 MINS ON MY WATCH WHEN ENG FAILED. I HAD GIVEN MY KIDS A RIDE BEFORE LEAVING AND ENCOUNTERED STRONGER HEADWINDS 50 MI FROM ARPT. THE FBO HAD NOT TOLD ME HOW MUCH FUEL HE PUT IN THE ACFT, IF ANY AFTER OCCURRENCE. I AM NOT SURE, BUT AM ALMOST CERTAIN THAT I RAN OUT OF GAS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HAD CARB ICE, BUT AFTER SITTING DOWN AND THINKING ALL OF THE EVENTS THROUGH COMPLETELY, I AM CERTAIN I RAN OUT OF GAS.

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.