Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 2 Eng; Retractable Gear
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6.5
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft
I had Aircraft X change to my frequency 132.5; almost immediately after he checked back on I noticed him 300 feet below his assigned altitude of 7;000 Feet. I decided to wait for 1 radar update to see if Aircraft X would correct his altitude. On the next update Aircraft X had descended further and I questioned the pilot of his altitude; there was no reply; I questioned him again and he responded that he was out of gas 8nm NW of ZZZ airport. I responded; you are out of gas; Aircraft X responded affirmative. I then gave him the nearest IFR airport on a 120 heading and 11nm. Aircraft X asked me to repeat the heading and distance for the airport and the controller that I had just relieved said he thought that the pilot wanted ZZZ and so I gave Aircraft X a heading and distance to ZZZ; Aircraft X responded roger heading that way. I then pulled up the airport info and read it to Aircraft X. Aircraft X responds with roger and an altitude update. I give Aircraft X a position update from the airport and he asks to switch to CTAF for lights. As he does that; the controller that I relieved and I try to split off his frequency so that I can give him better service because traffic is starting to build on the other frequencies that we are monitoring. As we are doing this Aircraft X comes back to 132.5 and says that he could not get the lights or beacon on; I try to respond that the airport does not have lights and to give him the weather from the airport; but when I transmit there is no voice. About 30 seconds pass and Aircraft X says he has a busy lighted road insight and that he is going to try for that. The other controller trying to split off the frequency with me responds with roger. The pilot then asks for a phone number to call us on when he lands and we give him the Operations Manager In Charge (OMIC) number. I lose Aircraft X on radar and call the Front Line Manager (FLM) at the OMIC desk and give him a last known lat/long. The pilot called the OMIC desk to let us know that he landed safely with no damage or injuries.
I left [departure airport] at XA:10 Zulu with approximately 53 gallons of fuel planning on using around 8 gal/hr according to the aircraft's cruise performance charts. Throughout the duration of the flight I monitored the gauges while switching between the left and right tanks because I knew fuel would be close but I thought I could make it without a fuel stop. At XE:10 Zulu my RPM dropped to nothing indicating loss of engine. I immediately acquired and maintained the aircraft's best glide speed and switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank to attempt to restart the engine. The RPM temporarily rose back to full power then lost RPM again. After that occurred I turned on the electronic fuel boost pump for one more attempt to regain power but to no avail. I then informed Center that I was out of fuel and inquired if ZZZ was the closest airport. After confirming ZZZ was the closest. I attempted to fly direct to ZZZ. I attempted to turn on the pilot controlled runway lighting system but could not find ZZZ. The moon was shining enough to where I could see a small two lane road beneath me. I only saw two vehicles driving on the road which helped me decide to land on this road. I change my glide path to land at a portion that seemed clear. On 'final approach' approximately 200 AGL; heading west; I flashed my landing light to alert any possible vehicle of my plans. I kept a consistent descent for the road; at 50 AGL I pushed the controls forward to avoid a single power line stretching across the road to a house on the left side of the road. Once clear of the power line hazard I performed a safe emergency landing on the road. I exited the aircraft after ensuring all electronics were off.
Controller describes a scenario where an aircraft under his control runs out of gas and eventually lands on a busy lighted road safely.