No fatalities

PIPISTREL ALPHA TRAINER accident at Colorado City, AZ, 11 Jul 2025

Colorado City, AZ, United States

On July 11, 2025, a PIPISTREL ALPHA TRAINER operated by FINAL DESIGN GROUP LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Colorado City, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s never-exceed speed (VNE) during maneuvering, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the left flaperon. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s never-exceed speed (VNE) during maneuvering, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the left flaperon.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Capability exceededPilotDamaged/degraded

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 11 Jul 2025 PIPISTREL ALPHA TRAINER accident near Colorado City, AZ?

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s never-exceed speed (VNE) during maneuvering, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the left flaperon.

Were there any fatalities in the 11 Jul 2025 PIPISTREL ALPHA TRAINER accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 11 Jul 2025 involved a PIPISTREL ALPHA TRAINER, operated by FINAL DESIGN GROUP LLC, at Colorado City, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s never-exceed speed (VNE) during maneuvering, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the left flaperon.