I'm surprised these days there are so many light aeroplane crashes.

Some years ago, they were quite rare, although I do recall an incident while fly-ing a tail-wheel Condor over Stapleford airfield in Essex with a passenger.

Having returned to Rochester airfield, I still had flying time left, so I turned due south towards Maidstone. After a while, my needle fuel gauge suddenly indicated I was out of fuel, although the pre-take-off checks had shown I had almost a full tank. I was left with no option but to put the aeroplane down.

I was flying over a built-up area but could make out fields in the distance and put the aeroplane in a gliding attitude, keeping the engine alive. I chose a field, although there was a high tree on the approach. Having done a low, tight, powered circuit I tur- ned on to final approach, cleared the tree and made a normal landing.

Apart from my passenger, the farmer was most surprised too. Although it was later discovered there was still some fuel left on the aeroplane - but not a lot - the cause was a fault with the fuel gauge. My flying instructor said I did the right thing.

-John Ovenden, Hawkhurst Road, Brighton