Improper Planning Leads to Highway Landing

Just before noon on Sunday, an out-of-gas Cessna 210 with four aboard made a firm landing...on the top of a GMC Jimmy SUV. The aircraft then bounced on to Memphis' I-40, where the automobile was travelling on. 

 
"I heard a knock," the driver said. "He came from the air. I couldn't see it," he said.

There were no injuries. The airplane didn't have any apparent damage. The airplane came to rest close to the Austin Peay exit, about two miles west of touchdown.

The pilot was on his way from Albany (GA) to Fayetteville (AR) and planned to refuel in Memphis. Unfortunately, he fell victim to  bad case of improper fuel management.

Hopefully, this pilot, and everyone one else out there, will remember to never totally rely on POH fuel figures and certainly not the fumbling gauges found on most older Cessnas, Pipers and the like. When in doubt, look-up your local CFI and spend an hour or two reviewing some basic flight planning procedures. It could save your life some day.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 6196N        Make/Model: C210      Description: 210, T210, (Turbo)Centurion
  Date: 01/25/2004     Time: 1725

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: None

LOCATION
  City: MEMPHIS                     State: TN   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR VISUAL APPROACH TO RWY 18L AT MEMPHIS
  INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE AND LANDED ON
  INTERSTATE 240. MEMPHIS, TN

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: SPECI KMEM 251717Z 230015G23 KT 10SM BKN015 BKN021 17/14 A2957             
                                                                                    
                                                        

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Descent      Operation: General Aviation

  Departed: ALBANY, GA ABY              Dep Date: 01/25/2004   Dep. Time:     
  Destination: MEMPHIS, TN MEM          Flt Plan: IFR          Wx Briefing: Y
  Last Radio Cont: MEM017010
  Last Clearance: CLED FOR VIS APP RWY18L

  FAA FSDO: MEMPHIS, TN  (SO25)                   Entry date: 01/26/2004 #

FMI:  www.faa.gov