Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 17; Flight Crew Total 228; Flight Crew Type 228
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Human Factors
[In cruise flight at 4;500 FT I] heard engine sputter. [I] increased mixture and added power. Engine seemed to have stopped. Contacted [ATC] and informed them I believed I ran out of fuel and would be making an emergency landing and asked what my options were. [ATC] informed me [nearest airport] was 19 miles away and I replied unable. I looked for roads as possible landing locations and all had power lines on one or both sides. Another aircraft offered to come and assist; but they were 30 miles away. I found a field and informed [ATC] that I would be landing in it. I received no reply but heard the other aircraft attempt to make contact with them. I followed appropriate actions to make the soft field landing and once the airplane came to a stop; I radioed over [ATC frequency] that if anyone could hear me; I was okay and abandoning the airplane. I then called my flight instructor.
A C172 pilot reported running out of fuel and landing safely in a field.