What happened
On June 23, 2025, at approximately 12:17 Pacific daylight time, a Vans Aircraft Inc RV-9, registration N696WG, was involved in an accident near Morgan Hill, California. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal flight.
While flying at approximately 4,500 feet mean sea level, the pilot reported hearing a pronounced sound from the engine lasting about two seconds. Immediately following this sound, both the fuel pressure and oil pressure dropped rapidly to zero. Although the engine continued to run for a short period, it soon lost all power.
Unable to reach an airport, the pilot performed a forced landing in an open field. During the landing maneuver, the pilot moved the aircraft to avoid a sports track. During this sequence, one of the airplane's wheels struck a berm, causing substantial damage to the wings. The pilot sustained 1 minor injury and was not killed in the accident.