Skydiver drop aircraft runs out of fuel and makes forced landing.

Attributes
ACN	264067
Time
Date	199402
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : n68
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other ground : preflight
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 1018 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	264067
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This was my first day at a new skydiving center. I was to be trained and do a little flying before I took any skydivers up for a jump. The owner was not there and the other pilot was busy flying another plane. I always fuel my own plane but this time the pump was different and I didn't know how to operate it. I preflted the plane while one of the staff fueled the plane. They used a dipstick for measuring the fuel. It had marks on it. I didn't know how they calculated it so I let him do it. He told me I had plenty for 3 lifts. I believed him. On my third lift, after the jumpers exited the plane, I started my descent. I made it down to 8000 ft AGL when the engine stopped. I landed the airplane at the airport. The engine began running so I could taxi off the runway. When the other pilot dipped the tanks I had about 1 gallon usable fuel, but not enough to keep the engine running during a descent or for level taxi. The staff put in enough fuel for 3 lifts at .9 hours each lift. I took .7 each lift, and there was no reserve in the plane when I started. I didn't watch him and observe how many gallons he put in the plane. I trusted an unfamiliar dipstick.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SKYDIVER DROP ACFT RUNS OUT OF FUEL AND MAKES FORCED LNDG.

Narrative: THIS WAS MY FIRST DAY AT A NEW SKYDIVING CTR. I WAS TO BE TRAINED AND DO A LITTLE FLYING BEFORE I TOOK ANY SKYDIVERS UP FOR A JUMP. THE OWNER WAS NOT THERE AND THE OTHER PLT WAS BUSY FLYING ANOTHER PLANE. I ALWAYS FUEL MY OWN PLANE BUT THIS TIME THE PUMP WAS DIFFERENT AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO OPERATE IT. I PREFLTED THE PLANE WHILE ONE OF THE STAFF FUELED THE PLANE. THEY USED A DIPSTICK FOR MEASURING THE FUEL. IT HAD MARKS ON IT. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY CALCULATED IT SO I LET HIM DO IT. HE TOLD ME I HAD PLENTY FOR 3 LIFTS. I BELIEVED HIM. ON MY THIRD LIFT, AFTER THE JUMPERS EXITED THE PLANE, I STARTED MY DSCNT. I MADE IT DOWN TO 8000 FT AGL WHEN THE ENG STOPPED. I LANDED THE AIRPLANE AT THE ARPT. THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING SO I COULD TAXI OFF THE RWY. WHEN THE OTHER PLT DIPPED THE TANKS I HAD ABOUT 1 GALLON USABLE FUEL, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP THE ENG RUNNING DURING A DSCNT OR FOR LEVEL TAXI. THE STAFF PUT IN ENOUGH FUEL FOR 3 LIFTS AT .9 HRS EACH LIFT. I TOOK .7 EACH LIFT, AND THERE WAS NO RESERVE IN THE PLANE WHEN I STARTED. I DIDN'T WATCH HIM AND OBSERVE HOW MANY GALLONS HE PUT IN THE PLANE. I TRUSTED AN UNFAMILIAR DIPSTICK.

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.