What happened
On July 17, 2025, at approximately 16:00 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 425, registration N425D, was involved in an accident near Round Rock, Arizona. The aircraft was being operated as a Part 91 instructional flight.
The flight was approximately 1.5 hours into a trip from Centennial Airport (APA) in Denver, Colorado, to Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT) in Phoenix, Arizona. While cruising at an altitude of approximately 26,000 feet MSL, the pilot and flight instructor reported hearing a loud noise from the left engine, which was immediately followed by a total loss of power from that engine.
During attempts to troubleshoot the left engine, the right engine also suffered a total loss of power, as indicated by the engine temperature and torque gauges. After declaring an emergency with air traffic control, the crew attempted to restart the right engine. During this process, the primary flight display flickered briefly before the aircraft experienced a total loss of electrical power.
The pilot performed a forced landing in an open desert area. During the landing sequence on a dry, rough surface, the main landing gear separated from the aircraft. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position. There were no injuries to the pilot or the flight instructor. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, specifically to the left wing.