Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 7500; Flight Crew Type 1500
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Human Factors
While flying [my aircraft]; I experienced an engine failure approximately 15 NM prior to the destination runway while flying at approximately 2;300 feet.  I had been experiencing extreme headwinds since a refueling stop and the leg had taken me longer than I'd planned. Because of the added flight time; I was thinking about fuel; but I thought I had enough fuel to make the intended destination with minimum reserves.  The engine failure was accompanied by a lack of fuel pressure that was not remedied by turning on an electric fuel pump.  I firmly believe it was due to fuel exhaustion.  With no airports within gliding distance; I angled the plane towards the interstate; and eventually lined up on a dark area parallel to the highway and attempted a landing onto an area about 100 yards from the highway. As I approached the field; I flared; and initially landed the main wheels successfully and rolled for a couple of seconds; probably 20 yards; but as soon as the nose wheel touched the recently plowed soft dirt; it dug in.  I did not suffer any serious injuries that I'm aware of and the plane had surprisingly minor damage.  Upon checking the fuel tanks after exiting the plane; they were indeed empty.
GA pilot reported making an off-airport landing that resulted from fuel exhaustion.