Zivko Aeronautics Inc. Edge 540-T accident near Denison, Texas, July 30, 2005
On July 30, 2005 at about 8:09 pm local time, a Zivko Aeronautics Inc. Edge 540-T, registered N95DE, was destroyed in an accident near Denison, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing aerobatics. A contributing factor was the low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2005 · about 8:09 pm local time
- Place
- Denison, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Zivko Aeronautics Inc. Edge 540-T
- Registration
- N95DE · no longer on the register · serial 2018
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 2,600-hour private pilot lost control of the airplane while performing low-altitude aerobatics at a lakeside boat event. Witnesses observed the airplane in a flat spin before leveling off and impacting the water in a 30 to 45 degrees nose down attitude. Flight control continuity was established to all flight controls, and no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were found during the investigation. The pilot was in radio contact with a helicopter that was documenting the boat event. No distress calls were received from the mishap. The pilot was wearing an emergency parachute, but did not attempt to abandon the airplane. The flight visibility was reported as 10 miles at the time of the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AE IO-540-X (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GYI Denison TX
- Destination: GYI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:05 pm from GYI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.