Narrative:

Prior to leaving I did the normal preflight with visual checks of the fuel from the filler caps and inside the cabin with the master on. Both showed around 2/3 to 3/4 full. I have made this trip a couple of times before burning around 16 gallons total for the flight; each way. I then took off for a business trip. Before completely leaving the area I turned back and overflew the airport with ATC permission to view the landing gear position. The gear motor fuse kept popping and I was curious as to the extent of retraction or extension. The tower confirmed my suspicions and I continued the flight IFR. A short time later the engine quit running. I attempted to restart on that fuel tank; but not did switch the tanks for a restart. After center called with a query about change of heading and altitude I informed them of the engine failure and asked them for a nearest airport. I s-turned looking for the one they spoke of; locating it to my south I then turned that direction realizing at that point that the winds reported a few minutes earlier were much stronger from the south than the 180 at 6 KTS they were reporting. Setting up best glide it appeared that the landing could be short. Scanning for suitable sites; straight ahead toward the airport was the best option. The gear did appear to lock into position and continued as slow as possible to the harvested winter wheat field ahead. I touched down coming downhill on a terrace keeping the nose gear light; and reached another terrace which made me airborne for several feet; then retouching down on the mains eventually coming to a controlled stop approximately 150 yards from the approach end of the airport. I immediately shutdown the systems and within a few minutes emergency equipment was on the scene to assist me and the plane. I was out of radar contact at the low altitude so an airline crew helped in relaying information to center on my behalf and; no doubt; called in the emergency. After a thorough inspection by the FAA; the owner of the plane and mechanics it was determined no physical damage had occurred and the plane was moved onto the runway and ramp area. I refueled and headed back to the departure airport. Had I taken the time to fill the tanks before departure this would not have been a problem. Had I tried to restart by switching to the opposite tank; that may have resulted in the engine firing and regaining flying attitude. I was not tired; upset or impaired in any way for it to affect the flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot of a PA24 Comanche suffered an engine failure due to fuel starvation and landed short of the runway at the nearest available airport.

Narrative: Prior to leaving I did the normal preflight with visual checks of the fuel from the filler caps and inside the cabin with the master on. Both showed around 2/3 to 3/4 full. I have made this trip a couple of times before burning around 16 gallons total for the flight; each way. I then took off for a business trip. Before completely leaving the area I turned back and overflew the airport with ATC permission to view the landing gear position. The gear motor fuse kept popping and I was curious as to the extent of retraction or extension. The tower confirmed my suspicions and I continued the flight IFR. A short time later the engine quit running. I attempted to restart on that fuel tank; but not did switch the tanks for a restart. After Center called with a query about change of heading and altitude I informed them of the engine failure and asked them for a nearest airport. I s-turned looking for the one they spoke of; locating it to my south I then turned that direction realizing at that point that the winds reported a few minutes earlier were much stronger from the south than the 180 at 6 KTS they were reporting. Setting up best glide it appeared that the landing could be short. Scanning for suitable sites; straight ahead toward the airport was the best option. The gear did appear to lock into position and continued as slow as possible to the harvested winter wheat field ahead. I touched down coming downhill on a terrace keeping the nose gear light; and reached another terrace which made me airborne for several feet; then retouching down on the mains eventually coming to a controlled stop approximately 150 yards from the approach end of the airport. I immediately shutdown the systems and within a few minutes emergency equipment was on the scene to assist me and the plane. I was out of radar contact at the low altitude so an airline crew helped in relaying information to Center on my behalf and; no doubt; called in the emergency. After a thorough inspection by the FAA; the owner of the plane and mechanics it was determined no physical damage had occurred and the plane was moved onto the runway and ramp area. I refueled and headed back to the departure airport. Had I taken the time to fill the tanks before departure this would not have been a problem. Had I tried to restart by switching to the opposite tank; that may have resulted in the engine firing and regaining flying attitude. I was not tired; upset or impaired in any way for it to affect the flight.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.