Low time C152 pilot lands with less than 1 gal fuel reserve after a cross country flight.

Attributes
ACN	608912
Time
Date	200402
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : approach landing : roll
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 43 flight time total : 193 flight time type : 143
ASRS Report	608912
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On a cross country flight from ZZZ I was flying with a group of more experienced pilots. I had just received my private license 5 days earlier. I took off with full tanks and started a timer on liftoff. I was the first to leave en route to ZZZ1. As I was in the slowest plane the others soon caught up and we communicated throughout the flight via air to air radio. The other aircraft were a C152, C172, 182, and C310. I followed the other C152 and the C172. When abeam ZZZ2 the other C152 and I questioned whether we should land for fuel at ZZZ3. We decided we could go on, and upon landing at ZZZ1, I discovered I had only 0.8 gals of fuel combined in both tanks. The main contributing factor, I believe, was my willingness to just follow the other planes, while not paying attention to the abilities of my own aircraft. In the future, I will be sure to plan my own flight instead of following the lead of other aircraft so as to be sure of my aircraft's limitations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME C152 PLT LANDS WITH LESS THAN 1 GAL FUEL RESERVE AFTER A XCOUNTRY FLT.

Narrative: ON A XCOUNTRY FLT FROM ZZZ I WAS FLYING WITH A GROUP OF MORE EXPERIENCED PLTS. I HAD JUST RECEIVED MY PVT LICENSE 5 DAYS EARLIER. I TOOK OFF WITH FULL TANKS AND STARTED A TIMER ON LIFTOFF. I WAS THE FIRST TO LEAVE ENRTE TO ZZZ1. AS I WAS IN THE SLOWEST PLANE THE OTHERS SOON CAUGHT UP AND WE COMMUNICATED THROUGHOUT THE FLT VIA AIR TO AIR RADIO. THE OTHER ACFT WERE A C152, C172, 182, AND C310. I FOLLOWED THE OTHER C152 AND THE C172. WHEN ABEAM ZZZ2 THE OTHER C152 AND I QUESTIONED WHETHER WE SHOULD LAND FOR FUEL AT ZZZ3. WE DECIDED WE COULD GO ON, AND UPON LNDG AT ZZZ1, I DISCOVERED I HAD ONLY 0.8 GALS OF FUEL COMBINED IN BOTH TANKS. THE MAIN CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, I BELIEVE, WAS MY WILLINGNESS TO JUST FOLLOW THE OTHER PLANES, WHILE NOT PAYING ATTN TO THE ABILITIES OF MY OWN ACFT. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE SURE TO PLAN MY OWN FLT INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF OTHER ACFT SO AS TO BE SURE OF MY ACFT'S LIMITATIONS.

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.