American aa-5 pilot has an off field landing.

Attributes
ACN	715843
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pim.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cheetah Tiger Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 224 flight time type : 23
ASRS Report	715843
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

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.

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.