Narrative:

During cruise; I did not properly continually check fuel selector switch. In that I did not employ a 'switch every X mins' plan; I had determined I should switch at half way. I simply forgot to do so. Clouds had us cruising at 1700 ft AGL; which when failure occurred did not afford time other than to line up for an emergency landing. Restart was not attempted for this reason. I was too busy keeping track of alternate landing sites due to low clouds; and lost the need to FLIP the selector. Purely my oversight; and I know better. We landed in a field; squawking 7700 and announcing on 121.5. No damage; no injury. This airplane; and all; should have a 'both' fuel option! The pilot should have checked fuel every 10 mins; with the directional gyro reset.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AMERICAN AA-5 PLT HAS AN OFF FIELD LNDG.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE; I DID NOT PROPERLY CONTINUALLY CHK FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH. IN THAT I DID NOT EMPLOY A 'SWITCH EVERY X MINS' PLAN; I HAD DETERMINED I SHOULD SWITCH AT HALF WAY. I SIMPLY FORGOT TO DO SO. CLOUDS HAD US CRUISING AT 1700 FT AGL; WHICH WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED DID NOT AFFORD TIME OTHER THAN TO LINE UP FOR AN EMER LNDG. RESTART WAS NOT ATTEMPTED FOR THIS REASON. I WAS TOO BUSY KEEPING TRACK OF ALTERNATE LNDG SITES DUE TO LOW CLOUDS; AND LOST THE NEED TO FLIP THE SELECTOR. PURELY MY OVERSIGHT; AND I KNOW BETTER. WE LANDED IN A FIELD; SQUAWKING 7700 AND ANNOUNCING ON 121.5. NO DAMAGE; NO INJURY. THIS AIRPLANE; AND ALL; SHOULD HAVE A 'BOTH' FUEL OPTION! THE PLT SHOULD HAVE CHKED FUEL EVERY 10 MINS; WITH THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO RESET.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.