Date: 201811
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Weather elements / visibility: Fog; Rain
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: PA-28R Cherokee Arrow All Series
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Final Approach
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Fuel System
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Trainee
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown
Contributing factors: Airport; Weather; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: An Instructor [and I] departed for ZZZ. I am a Private pilot who is getting back into flying after [a] break and have recently started working on my Instrument Rating. We filed IFR to ZZZ. Weather at the time of departure was marginal VFR in ZZZ and about 9;000 OVC 6+ SM visibility in ZZZ1 which was our alternate. TAF was showing no change to the METAR for the time of arrival. I had the FBO fill the Piper Arrow before we departed. Weather was IFR when we departed and we quickly came out on top to find VFR conditions the entire enroute phase of flight. I do recall stronger head winds than anticipated during this phase of flight and commented on the additional time and fuel we would burn. As we proceeded over [a mountain peak]; I could see into the valley and noticed low level clouds that appeared to be very thick. We contacted ZZZ1 approach for vectors to the RNAV RWY XX. As we descended in the approach the clouds were very thick and we shot a missed approach deciding to go to ZZZ1. [We were] put into a hold for approximately 25 minutes. [An air carrier] flight shot the approach and landed. At this point; we decided to follow them and try the RNAV RWY YY approach. As we approached MDA [minimum descent altitude]; I noticed the ground becoming visible through the cloud base and saw the approach lights (Rabbits). I relayed this information to my Instructor; however; he could not see anything and made the decision to go missed. After shooting the missed approach into ZZZ1; we were low on fuel and decided to go to ZZZ2 where weather was showing more favorable conditions. As ATC was vectoring us to RNAV RWY ZZ into ZZZ2; we needed additional time to prepare and get the approach into the Garmin. At this time; we did a 360 and reestablished ourselves on the approach. Upon final approach we started to lose our engine due to fuel exhaustion. I turned on the fuel pump and switched tanks and the engine was fine. A few minutes after that; the engine quit and we were out of fuel about a half mile from the runway end. I could see the runway but it was evident that we did not have the altitude to make an on airport landing. We noticed a field to the left of us and make a safe landing in the field. Aircraft was not damaged and no one was hurt.Contributing factors to this incident include:As a [Instrument] Student Pilot; I was not familiar with this aircraft. The checklist said to fill the tanks to the tabs. That is what I did. I know now that this is for storing the aircraft; but you can top the tanks in cross country. Estimated flight time was 1:50.We knew we were operating into our reserve fuel and should have not held for so long to get into ZZZ1. ZZZ2 would have been a better decision. Weather was not forecast to be this poor and ATC said it had rolled in unexpectedly about 15 minutes prior to us arriving.Stronger than anticipated head winds in route.Unable to land at destination airport.Extensive time holding to shoot the approach into ZZZ1.Unable to land at the alternate airport ZZZ1. After not being able to land in ZZZ1; we were Minimum fuel. We should have declared an emergency and taken vectors directly to ZZZ2. Weather into ZZZ2 was also IFR.




Synopsis: PA-28R Cherokee Arrow Private pilot reported an engine failure due to fuel starvation; which resulted in an off field landing with no damage to the aircraft or injuries.