Pilot of an small aircraft sel training aircraft ran out of fuel and was forced to land short of the...

Attributes
ACN	265854
Time
Date	199403
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mkc
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mkc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 88 flight time type : 29
ASRS Report	265854
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Earlier in the day, I had topped off both tanks and then flew for 2.2 hours, leaving me with the tanks half full. I did a flight plan from mkc to 5c8 (coffey county kansas) to do a touch-and-go at 5c8 then directly back to mkc. The distance between mkc to 5c8 is 74 NM. The winds were directly from the south at 9-15 KTS at the surface and 27 KTS above 6000 ft. I had planned the trip out to take 1:45 long. After flying for 2.2 hours earlier, I assumed that the plane would be fine for a 1 hour and 40 min trip with half tanks. I failed to do my math. Not realizing that the plane only had around 11.25 gallons and it burns around 6 per hour. The trip went fine until I was about 5 or 6 mi inbound for mkc. I was cleared to enter into a mid downwind. Pattern altitude is 1800 ft MSL and I was descending at 2000 ft when I hit some turbulence and the engine cut out. I pushed the throttle back in and the engine started back up, then hit some more and then the engine went out for good. I then set up for an engine out emergency landing. I told the controller my situation and then landed in a clear field with little problems and with very little damage to the plane.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL TRAINING ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND WAS FORCED TO LAND SHORT OF THE ARPT RESULTING IN VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE ACFT.

Narrative: EARLIER IN THE DAY, I HAD TOPPED OFF BOTH TANKS AND THEN FLEW FOR 2.2 HRS, LEAVING ME WITH THE TANKS HALF FULL. I DID A FLT PLAN FROM MKC TO 5C8 (COFFEY COUNTY KANSAS) TO DO A TOUCH-AND-GO AT 5C8 THEN DIRECTLY BACK TO MKC. THE DISTANCE BTWN MKC TO 5C8 IS 74 NM. THE WINDS WERE DIRECTLY FROM THE S AT 9-15 KTS AT THE SURFACE AND 27 KTS ABOVE 6000 FT. I HAD PLANNED THE TRIP OUT TO TAKE 1:45 LONG. AFTER FLYING FOR 2.2 HRS EARLIER, I ASSUMED THAT THE PLANE WOULD BE FINE FOR A 1 HR AND 40 MIN TRIP WITH HALF TANKS. I FAILED TO DO MY MATH. NOT REALIZING THAT THE PLANE ONLY HAD AROUND 11.25 GALLONS AND IT BURNS AROUND 6 PER HR. THE TRIP WENT FINE UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 5 OR 6 MI INBOUND FOR MKC. I WAS CLRED TO ENTER INTO A MID DOWNWIND. PATTERN ALT IS 1800 FT MSL AND I WAS DSNDING AT 2000 FT WHEN I HIT SOME TURB AND THE ENG CUT OUT. I PUSHED THE THROTTLE BACK IN AND THE ENG STARTED BACK UP, THEN HIT SOME MORE AND THEN THE ENG WENT OUT FOR GOOD. I THEN SET UP FOR AN ENG OUT EMER LNDG. I TOLD THE CTLR MY SIT AND THEN LANDED IN A CLR FIELD WITH LITTLE PROBS AND WITH VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE PLANE.

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.

Pilot of an small aircraft sel training aircraft ran out of fuel and was forced to land short of the airport resulting in very little damage to the aircraft.