LAX02LA095

Upon exhausting the airplane's fuel on approach to the destination airport, the pilot made a forced landing on a street and collided with an automobile. The pilot subsequently reported that he had not refueled the airplane prior to departing on the return portion of a round-robin cross country flight. The pilot also reported that he had evidently miscalculated the airplane engine's fuel consumption rate. According to the pilot, no mechanical malfunction was experienced during the flight.

On February 24, 2002, about 1635 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7604P, experienced a total loss of engine power on approach to the Reid-Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, California. The pilot made a forced landing on a street about 2 miles from the airport and collided with an automobile. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the automobile occupants nor the commercial pilot was injured. The airplane was operated by Amelia Reid Aviation, San Jose. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Santa Barbara, California, about 1500.

The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the airplane's fuel tanks were full upon his departure from San Jose earlier in the day. He flew to Santa Barbara and did not refuel the airplane. Thereafter, the pilot attempted to fly back to San Jose. The pilot indicated that he evidently had just "miscalculated" the airplane engine's fuel burn off rate and had exhausted the available fuel. The pilot did not report that he had experienced any mechanical malfunction with the airplane.