Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denison, Texas 75020
Saturday, July 30, 2005 15:09 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing aerobatics. A contributing factor was the low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1509
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Denison
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75020
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334250N
Event Location Longitude 0964025W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1505 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID GYI
Elevation of weather observation facility 749
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18973
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations
NTSB Notification Date Jul 30 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2006 7:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Dallas, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N95DE
NTSB Number DFW05LA193
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Zivko Aeronautics Inc.
Aircraft Model Edge 540-T
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2018
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David Wayne Estes
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1162 Plainview Road
Aircraft Owner City Sherman
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75092
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GYI
Departure City Denison
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GYI
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 8 2005 5:58PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --