DEN04CA099

The airplane, equipped with standard fuel tanks (43.0 gallons total, 40.0 gallons useable), was fueled to capacity prior to departure. The pilot and his passenger took off and flew for an estimated 4 hours, 14 minutes, before the engine lost power short of their destination. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. Postaccident examination revealed both fuel tanks were empty. The pilot admitted he had "run out of gas." According to a fuel calculations report submitted by the operator, "[If the pilot] received exactly full [fuel], flown exactly [a] straight line, leaned precisely, and the engine performed to the book, he would have arrived at KLAR with 1.8 gallons, or 15 minutes, which is half of VFR minimums and a lot less than safe, especially for a 450 nm trip. I think that says it all."

On July 5, 2004, approximately 1710 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N737YJ, registered to and operated by University Flying Club School, Inc., of Laramie, Wyoming, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an off-airport forced landing 15 miles northeast of Laramie. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Camdenton, Missouri, with stops at Clinton, Missouri, and Manhattan, Kansas. It departed Manhattan at 1346 central daylight time, and was en route to Laramie, Wyoming.

In a telephone interview with the pilot, and according to the accident report he submitted, he and his passenger departed Camdenton and flew to Clinton. After departing Clinton, they were forced to divert to Manhattan due to deteriorating weather. After weather conditions improved, they departed Manhattan approximately 1248 and flew GPS (global positioning system) direct to Laramie. As they flew over the northeast portion of the city, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. Postaccident examination revealed both fuel tanks were empty. The pilot said (and wrote), "We ran out of gas."

The airplane was equipped with standard fuel tanks (43.0 gallons total, 40.0 gallons useable). At Manhattan, it was reportedly serviced to capacity with 35.6 gallons. According to fuel calculations submitted by a University Flying Club School flight instructor, "[If the pilot] received exactly full [fuel], flown exactly [a] straight line, leaned precisely, and the engine performed to the book, he would have arrived at KLAR with 1.8 gallons, or 15 minutes, which is half of VFR minimums and a lot less than safe, especially for a 450 nm trip. I think that says it all." The airplane had been aloft for an estimated 4 hours, 14 minutes.