What happened
On April 19, 2025, at approximately 11:06 Pacific daylight time, a D'Apuzzo Senior Aero Sport, registration N321WC, was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. The flight was being operated under Part 91 as a personal flight.
After completing a preflight inspection and fueling the main saddle tanks, the pilot departed runway 7R from Phoenix Deer Valley Airport. The pilot's intention was to remain in the airport traffic pattern to exercise the aircraft. During an approach for a third touch-and-go, the air traffic control tower controller directed the pilot to initiate a go-around.
While turning onto the downwind leg for runway 7R at approximately 1,000 feet above the ground, the engine RPM surged several times, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by activating both high and low speed settings of the electric fuel boost pump and cycling the throttle and mixture levers, but the engine failed to restart.
At approximately 700 feet above the ground, the pilot declared an emergency and was cleared by the tower controller to land on runway 25R. Realizing the airport was unreachable, the pilot attempted a forced landing on a road. During the landing sequence, the pilot maneuvered to avoid an oncoming vehicle, causing the aircraft to impact a carport roof. The aircraft finally came to rest nose-down in a parking lot. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to both lower wings.