Cessna 150
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 43; Flight Crew Total 712; Flight Crew Type 345
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown
Aircraft; Human Factors
We were on a late afternoon sightseeing flight when the engine sputtered and then suddenly quit. I pulled carb heat. [I] looked at the fuel gauge to verify that we had plenty of fuel. [I] tried to restart the plane to no avail. Contacted Tower and announced that I had an incident and was going to land on the highway. I scanned the highway for the best place to set it down and safely landed. The airplane was not damaged and no one was injured. We met the FAA two days later and they examined the aircraft. They acknowledged that the fuel gauge showed plenty of fuel on board but after further examination it had run out of fuel. The fuel gauge had failed and I had relied too much on it. I usually am careful to time out my fuel and scan the gauges. To prevent this from happening in the future I am replacing the gauge. Also; I'll always top off the aircraft before flying; visually check it and rely on my watch to accurately manage fuel use.
C150 pilot experiences engine failure on a sightseeing flight and lands safely on a highway. Post flight revealed that the fuel tanks were empty although the fuel gauges showed plenty of fuel.