Zivko Aeronautics EDGE 540 N26HB

Summary

On 10 July 2009 at about 19:27 local time, a Zivko Aeronautics EDGE 540 registered N26HB was involved in an accident near Tarkio, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 July 2009 at 19:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Tarkio, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Gould Peterson Municipal (K57)

Coordinates

40.4406, -95.3798

Aircraft

Zivko Aeronautics EDGE 540

Registration

N26HB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tarkio → Tarkio

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA427

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the aerobatic flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aerobatic airplane impacted the ground following a loss of control during an practice flight. The pilot was an aerobatic performer who was scheduled to perform at an airshow the following day. Video of the accident flight showed the airplane in a climbing vertical roll which was followed by what appeared to be an inverted spin. The rotation of the spin was halted with the airplane in a near vertical descent. During the recovery from the dive, the airplane suddenly rolled to the right and rotated about 1-1/2 turns before impacting the ground in a nose-low, right-wing-down attitude. Audible engine sounds were present throughout the recording. An examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-impact deficiencies with regard to the airplane’s structure, flight control system or other airplane systems. The pilot had been intermittently prescribed a prescription stimulant for weight loss approximately 2-3 years prior to the accident and had not indicated the use of the medication to the FAA at that time. The medication was found on post-mortem toxicology testing, suggesting use within the several days preceding the accident, but the nature of the specimens tested did not permit more accurate estimation of when it may have last been used or whether the pilot may have been impaired by such use. Given the challenging maneuvers being performed, even slight impairment may have been sufficient to contribute to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.