Student runs out of fuel and lands on Interstate

[eticket]

Not quite sure where best to post this one so let's start off in News.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,345496,00.html

In essence a student in a C150 on 'first solo' ran out of fuel and landed on Interstate 81.

The plane was filled with fuel and taxied to the intended destination of Abingdon's Virginia Highlands Airport. Poor chap was that close to home.

ps. Some more details and a photo here:
http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2008-04-02-0032.html

[Supersport]

First Solo flight? Ran out of fuel? Doesn't take much to do 1 circuit does it?

I guess they must do it differently in the States then

[IO540]

I guess they must do it differently in the States then

Not that differently. Much more likely, he shut off the fuel cock. Or pulled back that red lever.

[Speedbird48]

Knoxville isn't really in the circuit for Mountain Empire!! Not even in the same state so "maybe" that was a first solo cross country??

How he got it down on I-81 with all the cowboy truck drivers is amazing!! I am just about to drive up it for a short distance and it is one of the most dangerous, overpopulated with trucks, road in the country.

Other than the California interstates which will always beat anything!!!

[Ken Wells]

It was actually his first solo cross country not first solo.

[Shunter]

Well aside from the discussion over why he ran out of fuel, I think he did an excellent job, getting it down safely without any injury or major damage.

[powerstall]

Well aside from the discussion over why he ran out of fuel, I think he did an excellent job, getting it down safely without any injury or major damage

I concur.

[airborne_artist]

The person who told him that IFR means I Fly Roads should have explained that it's a joke

[foxmoth]

If he actually ran out of fuel I would be questioning the instructor who sent him!