What happened
A student pilot was operating the final leg of a cross-country flight when the engine ceased operation. The pilot attempted a forced landing on a beach during this phase of flight. During the landing sequence, the aircraft nosed over.
The pilot reported that he had purchased approximately 5.9 gallons of fuel at one of his previous points of landing. However, he did not provide information regarding the duration of the flight prior to the engine failure.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage revealed that approximately one cup of fuel remained in the wing fuel tanks. This finding indicates that the aircraft had run out of usable fuel before the engine stopped.
Findings
The primary factor leading to this accident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot failed to ensure sufficient fuel was available for the remainder of the flight, despite purchasing a limited quantity at an intermediate stop.