What happened
On September 25, 2025, at approximately 06:53 mountain daylight time, a Pipistrel D O O Alpha Trainer, registration N246EA, was involved in an accident near Wittman, Arizona. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.
While cruising at an altitude of 6,500 feet MSL, the engine suffered a total loss of power, causing the propeller to stop rotating. The crew attempted to restart the engine, but the propeller failed to rotate when the starter was engaged, and engine power could not be restored.
The pilots prepared for a forced landing and initially directed the aircraft toward an oval-shaped car test track. Upon realizing the sloped surface of the track was unsuitable for landing, they redirected the aircraft toward flat desert terrain located north of the track. During the landing sequence, the nose landing gear dug into the dirt, causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries and substantial damage to the aircraft's empennage.