Date: 202108
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Operator: Other unknown
Operating under: Other unknown
Flight plan: VFR
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Cruise; Final Approach; Initial Approach
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
Aircraft component: Engine
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Other unknown
Reporter function: Trainee; Pilot Flying; PIC
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Workload; Confusion
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Myself and an Instructor flight planned to do a commercial long cross country going ZZZ1-ZZZ2-ZZZ-ZZZ3. The flight plan read that we would have used up less than half our fuel (50 useable per POH) going to ZZZ2. We departed ZZZ1 having a ground speed much higher than expected of 125-131 using up less fuel than expected. Other than deviating around clouds and cells it was an uneventful flight. I have done this flight before and last time made the smart decision of fueling up in ZZZ2 to go back to ZZZ1. When we landed this time in ZZZ2 during day light; It was shown that we had used about 21 gallons. Leaving 29 gallons remaining. Then once our preflight was done in ZZZ2 we jumped in the plane and started it up. At this point it was night time. The plan was still to go to ZZZ. So we departed and start to head in that direction.  We found ourselves deviating around storms and making sure we are of course not running into airspace. We found that we had a greater headwind than expected and our ground speed ending up being around 90. When we were en route to ZZZ the engine began sputtering south of ZZZ4. I thought we were having an engine failure because throughout the flight I had constantly been checking the fuel gauges to show we had fuel. I turn the fuel pump on and switch the tanks from left to right. Once I was complete the engine ran normally. It was after this that I said to the Instructor that I wanted to get on the ground as soon as possible. He reassured me that we had plenty of fuel based on the aircraft fuel gauges and the secondary JPI. The left fuel gauge read a quarter of a tank of fuel when we ran out. We were still going toward ZZZ and continued. We contacted ZZZ Tower and they instructed us to enter left base and report a 3 mile final for Runway XX. We enter the base to final and report a 3 mile final. Followed by the Tower's instruction that we were number two and cleared to land on Runway XX. On about a 1 mile final we had the engine sputter again. I turn the fuel pump on and switched tanks from right to left hoping there was a possibility we have a little bit more fuel in there to keep the propeller going. Unfortunately; there was no more fuel even though the gauges read there was and the JPI indicated we had 8.8 gallons remaining when the engine died. The Instructor [advised] Tower and we then landing on [the] highway.




Synopsis: Flight Instructor and Student reported the engine failed during cruise due to fuel exhaustion and an off airport landing was done.