20070705014169A

(-23) THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REQUESTED TO BE FUELED AT THE CHANDLER AIRPORT PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE ON JULY 5, 2007. HIS PASSENGER IS A PILOT AND DURING THE FUELING PROCESS THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS CALLED AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE ASSUMED THAT HIS PASSENGER WOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FUELING. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DETERMINED LATER THAT DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF THE DAY THAT HIS PASSENGER DID NOT STAY FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FUELED. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD PREFLIGHTED HIS AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO FUELING SO ALL HE DID WAS A VERY BRIEF SCAN OF THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE TAKEOFF AND HE REMEMBERS THAT HE CHECKED THE LEFT FUEL CAP AND IT WAS SECURE. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE RIGHT FUEL CAP AND ASSUMED THAT IT WAS SECURE. DURING THE FLIGHT THE FUEL WAS SIPHONED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT IN ABOUT 40-45 MINUTES. HIS AVIONICS EQUIPMENT INDICATED THE CLOSEST AIRPORT WAS 40 MILES AWAY. HE WAS AT 10,500 MSL AND REALIZED HE COULD NOT MAKE THAT AIRPORT. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON I-10. DURING THE LAST FEW MOMENTS OF THE APPROACH A TRUCK PULLING A FLATBED TRAILER WAS IN THE WAY AND HE DECIDED TO LAND IN THE MEDIAN. UPON LANDING ALL THE LANDING GEAR WERE SHEARED OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET. AFTER LANDING, UPON INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THE RIGHT FUEL CAP WAS NOT SECURE. THIS AIRMAN HAS BEEN COUNSELED ON THE NEED TO VERIFY ALL RE-FUELING ACTIVITIES AND NOT TO RELY ON ANYONE ELSE FOR HIS PREFLIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES. THIS INCIDENT IS CLOSED WITH NO FURTHER ACTION.