Beaver Marsh Airport: Beaver Marsh, Oregon

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As the pilot neared the airport, he decided to land as the passengers needed to use the airport's facilities. Using several visual clues, including some nearby vegetation, he estimated that the runway had a layer of snow on the surface several inches in depth. The airplane touched down on the snow covered runway and the airplane suddenly stopped, nosing over inverted. Once on the ground, the pilot found that the snow was in actuality over 1-foot deep. He reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
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According to the pilot, about 30 to 35 minutes into the flight, while in level cruise flight at 9,500 feet msl, the engine began to lose power. The pilot attempted to resolve the problem by adding and removing carburetor heat, adjusting the fuel mixture, switching tanks and selecting each magneto separately. However, the power loss continued with the RPM dropping to 1,000 by the end of the flight. The pilot set up for a forced landing in terrain he described as "level and forested with coniferous trees." He landed in a clearing in the trees, and during the landing roll, the nose wheel separated, and the airplane nosed down. Post accident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal the reason for the loss of engine power.