Fuel exhaustion - fuel equipment problem aircraft equipment problem.

Attributes
ACN	297734
Time
Date	199503
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ctk
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pia
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1450 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	297734
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was returning home from an air lifeline volunteer flight from chicago miggs field to kirksville, mo. I topped the tanks before I departed, flew 35 mins to chicago, 1 hour 35 mins to kirksville and had been in he air for 30 min. Fuel gauges read 1/4 tank 1 side, 1/2 tank right side. I thought I had switched from left tank to right tank. The engine suddenly stopped. I was unable to restart using boost pump and switched tanks. I landed in a bean field, causing no damage, called my mechanic, he immediately flew to the canton airport and checked the plane over. We drained 1 quart of gas from left tank. After my mechanic checked the plane over, I flew out of field and to his shop for a complete inspection and a check of the fuel gauges. I take full responsibility for this PIC. My intent was not to press on, but in the future I'm will not rely as much on fuel gauges, because this incident has proven to me that fuel gauges don't always read the same.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FUEL EXHAUSTION - FUEL EQUIP PROB ACFT EQUIP PROB.

Narrative: I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM AN AIR LIFELINE VOLUNTEER FLT FROM CHICAGO MIGGS FIELD TO KIRKSVILLE, MO. I TOPPED THE TANKS BEFORE I DEPARTED, FLEW 35 MINS TO CHICAGO, 1 HR 35 MINS TO KIRKSVILLE AND HAD BEEN IN HE AIR FOR 30 MIN. FUEL GAUGES READ 1/4 TANK 1 SIDE, 1/2 TANK R SIDE. I THOUGHT I HAD SWITCHED FROM L TANK TO R TANK. THE ENG SUDDENLY STOPPED. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART USING BOOST PUMP AND SWITCHED TANKS. I LANDED IN A BEAN FIELD, CAUSING NO DAMAGE, CALLED MY MECH, HE IMMEDIATELY FLEW TO THE CANTON ARPT AND CHKED THE PLANE OVER. WE DRAINED 1 QUART OF GAS FROM L TANK. AFTER MY MECH CHKED THE PLANE OVER, I FLEW OUT OF FIELD AND TO HIS SHOP FOR A COMPLETE INSPECTION AND A CHK OF THE FUEL GAUGES. I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PIC. MY INTENT WAS NOT TO PRESS ON, BUT IN THE FUTURE I'M WILL NOT RELY AS MUCH ON FUEL GAUGES, BECAUSE THIS INCIDENT HAS PROVEN TO ME THAT FUEL GAUGES DON'T ALWAYS READ THE SAME.

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.