What happened
On October 18, 1997, a C-208 Caravan, registration PT-OGC, operated by Brasil Central Linha Aérea Regional S.A., was performing a repositioning flight from Vitória to São Paulo. While cruising at 8,000 feet, the aircraft experienced a sudden engine failure accompanied by a metallic grinding noise and oil spraying onto the cockpit windshield.
At the time of the failure, the aircraft was flying within a cloud layer. The crew executed a 90-degree turn toward the coast to avoid terrain. Due to the low light conditions near dawn and the lack of visibility, the crew struggled to identify a suitable landing site. After turning toward the shoreline and activating landing lights, the crew identified a beach with an elevation ahead. To avoid the obstacle, they initiated an immediate forced landing.
The aircraft touched down on the sand, but the left wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to flip onto its back. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the co-pilot was unharmed.