What happened
On 17 August 2010, a Zivko Edge 540, registration N-540WC, was performing aerobatic training maneuvers in the vicinity of the Casarrubios Aerodrome in Toledo, Spain. The pilot, a highly experienced Spanish national and former two-time Spanish aerobatic champion, was practicing for an airshow scheduled for two weeks later.
During the flight, the pilot initiated a descending snap roll at a 45-degree angle. While the pilot typically performed two or three rolls during such maneuvers, this sequence continued for six or seven rolls. An aircraft maintenance technician watching from the ground observed the extended duration of the maneuver and attempted to warn the pilot via radio to recover. The pilot did not respond, and the aircraft continued rolling until it impacted the ground at high speed. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the aircraft's wreckage, the pilot's flight history, and eyewitness accounts. Investigators analyzed the cockpit structure of the Zivko Edge 540, noting that its tubular steel frame is exposed, unlike the pilot's more recent racing aircraft, which features protective panels.
Testing was conducted at the manufacturer's facilities to determine if the cockpit's tubular structure could impede rudder pedal movement. While the test was inconclusive, investigators noted that previous incidents in similar aircraft involved pilots' feet becoming trapped in the pedal assembly or the airframe. The investigation also considered the physiological effects of G-forces, specifically the possibility of G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) following the pilot's recent transition from high-G racing to aerobatic flight without an anti-G suit.