What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot noticed his float type fuel gauge (mounted on the aircraft nose) was showing about half a tank. This was indicating the center tank fuel level, not the wing tanks. He monitored the fuel level and stayed local for his practice flight. Fuel level continued to show less and less so he decided to return to the field. At this time his engine sputtered and he lost engine power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot which was unsuccessful. He landed on a highway 501. Upon landing he attempted to exit the highway into a parking lot and struck a steel mail box post.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT NOTICED HIS FLOAT TYPE FUEL GAUGE (MOUNTED ON THE AIRCRAFT NOSE) WAS SHOWING ABOUT HALF A TANK. THIS WAS INDICATING THE CENTER TANK FUEL LEVEL, NOT THE WING TANKS. HE MONITORED THE FUEL LEVEL AND STAYED LOCAL FOR HIS PRACTICE FLIGHT. FUEL LEVEL CONTINUED TO SHOW LESS AND LESS SO HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD. AT THIS TIME HIS ENGINE SPUTTERED AND HE LOST ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE LANDED ON A HIGHWAY 501. UPON LANDING HE ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY INTO A PARKING LOT AND STRUCK A STEEL MAIL BOX POST.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.