Narrative:

I was then eager to explore more landing areas further south nearer to a good fishing hole. After a few exploratory low passes I determined what I thought was a suitable landing area. As I set the main wheels down I held full aft elevator. As I slowed and therefore lost elevator effectiveness the nosewheel touched down and began to sink in the sand. In a few more seconds the aircraft came to a stop with the nosewheel buried in the sand. The propeller struck the sand and stopped the engine. My brother (the only passenger) and I were able to free the aircraft and pushed it a few ft toward the sea to more stable soil. I inspected the propeller, and it did not appear bent. I started the engine and noticed a slight vibration that smoothed out when full power was applied. I then decided that I would fly the aircraft home, because what little damage there was would not affect the airworthiness of the aircraft. When I returned the aircraft to the FBO where I had rented it they decided to send the propeller off for balancing. They also removed the engine and sent it for a tear down and inspection. My biggest regret from this incident is that I allowed myself to explore and attempt less and less suitable landing areas to the point where I finally damaged a very nice airplane. At some point I should have set a rule for myself not to try and land a $100000 airplane on the beach for fun.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT LANDS ON A BEACH AND ENDS UP HAVING A PROP STRIKE AS THE NOSEWHEEL SUNK INTO THE SAND.

Narrative: I WAS THEN EAGER TO EXPLORE MORE LNDG AREAS FURTHER S NEARER TO A GOOD FISHING HOLE. AFTER A FEW EXPLORATORY LOW PASSES I DETERMINED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SUITABLE LNDG AREA. AS I SET THE MAIN WHEELS DOWN I HELD FULL AFT ELEVATOR. AS I SLOWED AND THEREFORE LOST ELEVATOR EFFECTIVENESS THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN AND BEGAN TO SINK IN THE SAND. IN A FEW MORE SECONDS THE ACFT CAME TO A STOP WITH THE NOSEWHEEL BURIED IN THE SAND. THE PROP STRUCK THE SAND AND STOPPED THE ENG. MY BROTHER (THE ONLY PAX) AND I WERE ABLE TO FREE THE ACFT AND PUSHED IT A FEW FT TOWARD THE SEA TO MORE STABLE SOIL. I INSPECTED THE PROP, AND IT DID NOT APPEAR BENT. I STARTED THE ENG AND NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION THAT SMOOTHED OUT WHEN FULL PWR WAS APPLIED. I THEN DECIDED THAT I WOULD FLY THE ACFT HOME, BECAUSE WHAT LITTLE DAMAGE THERE WAS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE ACFT. WHEN I RETURNED THE ACFT TO THE FBO WHERE I HAD RENTED IT THEY DECIDED TO SEND THE PROP OFF FOR BALANCING. THEY ALSO REMOVED THE ENG AND SENT IT FOR A TEAR DOWN AND INSPECTION. MY BIGGEST REGRET FROM THIS INCIDENT IS THAT I ALLOWED MYSELF TO EXPLORE AND ATTEMPT LESS AND LESS SUITABLE LNDG AREAS TO THE POINT WHERE I FINALLY DAMAGED A VERY NICE AIRPLANE. AT SOME POINT I SHOULD HAVE SET A RULE FOR MYSELF NOT TO TRY AND LAND A $100000 AIRPLANE ON THE BEACH FOR FUN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.