Fuel starvation involving a Piper Aircraft Corp PA-28-161, VH-LBL, 19km N King Island, Aerodrome, TAS on 13 January 1996

The pilot reported that while cruising at 1,000 ft the engine started to make unusual noises. He decided to make a precautionary landing on a beach. During the landing roll the aircraft entered soft sand. The nosegear broke off and the propeller was bent. An inspection after the accident found one fuel tank was empty. No fault was found with the engine. A new nosegear and propeller was fitted, the engine was run and the aircraft was flown off the beach and returned to its base.