Pilot of an small aircraft makes an off airport landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Attributes
ACN	413104
Time
Date	199808
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cou
State Reference	MO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cou
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	413104
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I departed M39 for a 3 hour flight to cou. On descent into cou, approximately 3.1 hours, engine failed. I saw I was not going to make the airport, so I landed in a field. Fuel gauges showed approximately 1/8 each side. I had been flying for 3.1 hours. The tanks were full when I left, which should have given me 4.1 hours. No damage to aircraft or passenger. I had fuel brought to aircraft, refueled and flew over to airport. I should mention I have an a&P and I checked out the plane prior to takeoff at M39 and the tanks were full, also before takeoff from the field and determined the problem was fuel starvation. After talking to the FSDO, tower, etc, I had the plane topped off. It took a total of 24 gallons. The flight back to M39 took 2 hours 40 mins. It took 20.7 gallons to top it back off. Rest assured, the plane was properly leaned by an egt. On inspecting the plane the following day, the magneto timing was found to be out by 3 degrees.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA MAKES AN OFF ARPT LNDG DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Narrative: I DEPARTED M39 FOR A 3 HR FLT TO COU. ON DSCNT INTO COU, APPROX 3.1 HRS, ENG FAILED. I SAW I WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE ARPT, SO I LANDED IN A FIELD. FUEL GAUGES SHOWED APPROX 1/8 EACH SIDE. I HAD BEEN FLYING FOR 3.1 HRS. THE TANKS WERE FULL WHEN I LEFT, WHICH SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME 4.1 HRS. NO DAMAGE TO ACFT OR PAX. I HAD FUEL BROUGHT TO ACFT, REFUELED AND FLEW OVER TO ARPT. I SHOULD MENTION I HAVE AN A&P AND I CHKED OUT THE PLANE PRIOR TO TKOF AT M39 AND THE TANKS WERE FULL, ALSO BEFORE TKOF FROM THE FIELD AND DETERMINED THE PROB WAS FUEL STARVATION. AFTER TALKING TO THE FSDO, TWR, ETC, I HAD THE PLANE TOPPED OFF. IT TOOK A TOTAL OF 24 GALLONS. THE FLT BACK TO M39 TOOK 2 HRS 40 MINS. IT TOOK 20.7 GALLONS TO TOP IT BACK OFF. REST ASSURED, THE PLANE WAS PROPERLY LEANED BY AN EGT. ON INSPECTING THE PLANE THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE MAGNETO TIMING WAS FOUND TO BE OUT BY 3 DEGS.

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.