A private pilot in a C172 suffers fuel exhaustion and lands in a field, uneventfully.

Attributes
ACN	400692
Time
Date	199804
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ane
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 188 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	499692
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a return cross country flight from pwk direct to D21 direct to cbg, the engine lost power. I think this was caused by running out of usable fuel. I calculated more than 5 hours of usable fuel on board, however, the supply was exhausted after 3.7 hours of flight. Calculated fuel usage -- 6.9 gph, 38 gallons on board = 5.5 hours available. I declared an emergency (126.5, squawk 7700), and then landed in an open field. I notified the FAA, and an incident report was filed. The plane was refueled and flown home on apr/xa/98. No damage or injuries were sustained.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT PLT IN A C172 SUFFERS FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LANDS IN A FIELD, UNEVENTFULLY.

Narrative: ON A RETURN XCOUNTRY FLT FROM PWK DIRECT TO D21 DIRECT TO CBG, THE ENG LOST PWR. I THINK THIS WAS CAUSED BY RUNNING OUT OF USABLE FUEL. I CALCULATED MORE THAN 5 HRS OF USABLE FUEL ON BOARD, HOWEVER, THE SUPPLY WAS EXHAUSTED AFTER 3.7 HRS OF FLT. CALCULATED FUEL USAGE -- 6.9 GPH, 38 GALLONS ON BOARD = 5.5 HRS AVAILABLE. I DECLARED AN EMER (126.5, SQUAWK 7700), AND THEN LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. I NOTIFIED THE FAA, AND AN INCIDENT RPT WAS FILED. THE PLANE WAS REFUELED AND FLOWN HOME ON APR/XA/98. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.

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.