PA-25 Pawnee
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 1300; Flight Crew Type 50
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown
Human Factors; Aircraft
I was towing a glider at 3;000 feet when the Piper Pawnee I was flying ran out of fuel. The standard practice at our glider field is that when a tow pilot finishes the day; the aircraft is refueled before it is returned to the hangar. The Pawnee has a plexiglass sight gauge that had become yellowed and was difficult to see the float fuel indicator. Unknown to me; the fuel tank at the field was empty at the end of the previous flights; and the plane was not refueled. I towed a glider to an altitude of 3;000 feet and the engine quit. The glider released and I circled the field and made an uneventful landing.Our practice at the field is to make ten tows and then get fuel. I did not visually inspect the sight gauge and there was not a note on the aircraft that it was not refueled after the last flight of the previous session. I did an inadequate preflight and was fortunate to have a successful conclusion of the flight. The fuel sight gauge has been replaced and it has been emphasized to all pilots to do a thorough preflight and if a pilot discovers anything out of the ordinary; leave a note in the aircraft.
PA25 pilot reported landing safely after running out of fuel after releasing a glider.