Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3; Flight Crew Total 10250; Flight Crew Type 120
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Diverted; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
Departed XA:30 with full fuel (3.5 hours range) for ZZZ (ETE 2.25 hours). At XC:30; I was 4 NM west of my destination at 2000 ft and reduced power about 100 RPM to initiate a descent to pattern altitude. Immediately after the power reduction; the engine sputtered and lost power. Changing throttle position or carb heat setting made no difference. The engine quit. I selected a field about a mile outside the airport boundary and landed. The landing was smooth and uneventful. No damage. No injuries.
The reporter stated no obvious cause for fuel exhaustion was discovered in this older aircraft. The temperature that day was about 12 degrees Fahrenheit which made for low density altitude and higher fuel usage. The fuel tanks were overfilled during preflight so the reporter is certain about the amount of pre-departure fuel.
Aeronca Champion pilot reported the engine quit due to fuel exhaustion 1.5 hours sooner than planned after two hours of flight. A successful off airport landing was completed with no damage or injury.