At approximately 9am today (30 December 2016), police received a report of a small plane upside down on the beach at Peron Dunes near St Helens.

It appears that the single engine small plane, which was being piloted by a 61 year old Launceston man, had attempted to land on the beach the previous evening, after thick fog prevented him from landing at Bicheno.

The man had flown North until he could see a clear area and landed the plane as he was running low on fuel.

The plane flipped on landing, due to the soft sand.

The pilot, and only occupant, was not injured and walked from the area shortly after landing.

The matter has been referred to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Recreational Aviation Australia.