Event Overview
A private pilot and a passenger were conducting a sight-seeing flight near Silver City, New Mexico. During the flight, the engine quit. The pilot reported that he had run the left fuel tank dry. When he switched fuel tanks, the engine did not restart. The pilot stated that he did not have enough time or altitude to restart the engine before needing to focus on executing a forced landing.
Forced Landing and Ground Incident
The forced landing was performed normally. However, during the ground roll, the nose gear struck a hidden rock. The impact caused the nose gear to separate from the aircraft. Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over. The empennage and vertical stabilizer were damaged in the event.
Additional Information
The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, engine count, date, operator, number of occupants (other than pilot and passenger), injuries, time of day, weather conditions, or ATC involvement. No probable cause is stated in the source.