Incident Overview
The pilot of a general aviation airplane became disoriented during the flight and overshot the valley where the destination airport was situated. Recognizing that he was lost and that fuel was low, the pilot opted to perform a precautionary landing.
Sequence of Events
While maneuvering the airplane in preparation for landing on an open, sandy beach, the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot then executed a forced landing onto a rocky beach. During the landing, the airplane nosed over.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the fuel system was intact. However, no fuel was found in the system at the time of inspection.
Conclusion
The incident involved a combination of pilot disorientation, fuel exhaustion leading to engine power loss, and a subsequent forced landing that resulted in the aircraft nosing over.