Small aircraft on IFR flight plan has engine fail. Lands in driveway of ranch.

Attributes
ACN	229894
Time
Date	199212
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 11sx airport : sat
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	229894
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight from prx-sat. I planned a 3 hour flight. The performance book for the plane estimated enough fuel for 4 1/2 flight hours. At approximately 3 hours 30 mins into flight, the engine began to die. I declared an emergency and landed on the driveway of a ranch. After landing the fuel tanks were checked by me. The right tank was dry. The left tank had visible fuel. The right tank has a fuel gauge that is placarded inoperative. The following day myself and mr. X from FSDO examined this aircraft and observed fuel in both tanks. The plane was moved after the landing and I presume that the fuel leveled out. I cannot explain why the performance of the plane was hindered. I believe that the plane's performance and the inoperative gauge were factors in the flight. I will not trust gauges nor performance charts again. Please feel free to call with questions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON IFR FLT PLAN HAS ENG FAIL. LANDS IN DRIVEWAY OF RANCH.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT FROM PRX-SAT. I PLANNED A 3 HR FLT. THE PERFORMANCE BOOK FOR THE PLANE ESTIMATED ENOUGH FUEL FOR 4 1/2 FLT HRS. AT APPROX 3 HRS 30 MINS INTO FLT, THE ENG BEGAN TO DIE. I DECLARED AN EMER AND LANDED ON THE DRIVEWAY OF A RANCH. AFTER LNDG THE FUEL TANKS WERE CHKED BY ME. THE R TANK WAS DRY. THE L TANK HAD VISIBLE FUEL. THE R TANK HAS A FUEL GAUGE THAT IS PLACARDED INOP. THE FOLLOWING DAY MYSELF AND MR. X FROM FSDO EXAMINED THIS ACFT AND OBSERVED FUEL IN BOTH TANKS. THE PLANE WAS MOVED AFTER THE LNDG AND I PRESUME THAT THE FUEL LEVELED OUT. I CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PLANE WAS HINDERED. I BELIEVE THAT THE PLANE'S PERFORMANCE AND THE INOP GAUGE WERE FACTORS IN THE FLT. I WILL NOT TRUST GAUGES NOR PERFORMANCE CHARTS AGAIN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL WITH QUESTIONS.

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.