FlyingKiwi
Running out of fuel would be a possibility. I remember being asked by what was then known as Anglo American the piper dealership at bournemouth to fly a PPL from Luton to Nice.
The Guy had just bought a shiny new Seneca Five from them but had no instrument ratings.
We left luton with the demands from this PPL that we made Nice in one. That was why he bought the aircraft to make Nice in one.
I told him that he was wishful thinking unless we got a blinding tailwind.
The Seneca has a DDMP which is very accurate on endurance and fuel at destination.
Passing Grenoble it was obvious that no way were we going to make it.
"The DDMP says we will have 4 gals a side when we get there". He said with delight! We had a blazing row mid flight and dropped into Grenoble to refuel.
It would not be the first time that a pilot has stretched the fuel too far.
That still would not account for panning into a mountain side rather than crash landing into the valley
Pace