What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A CE-188 which was not equipped with an aviation radio, entered left traffic (published) for runway 24 at big spring, Texas. A radio equipped PA-22 entered right traffic for runway 24 at big spring. At approximately 200 to 300 feet above ground level and 1/4 mile from the runway, the CE-188 over took the PA-22 and the left main wheel collided with the right elevator. Just before the collision the CE-188 pilot noticed the PA-22 and pulled up and away to the right. The PA-22 pilot never saw the CE-188, but did feel the impact on the tail of the Piper. The tire of the CE-188 struck the underside of the elevator control surface of the PA-22, damaging the control surface. Both aircraft were landed with no further damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A CE-188 WHICH WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN AVIATION RADIO, ENTERED LEFT TRAFFIC (PUBLISHED) FOR RUNWAY 24 AT BIG SPRING, TEXAS. A RADIO EQUIPPED PA-22 ENTERED RIGHT TRAFFIC FOR RUNWAY 24 AT BIG SPRING. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 TO 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND 1/4 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY, THE CE-188 OVER TOOK THE PA-22 AND THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT ELEVATOR. JUST BEFORE THE COLLISION THE CE-188 PILOT NOTICED THE PA-22 AND PULLED UP AND AWAY TO THE RIGHT. THE PA-22 PILOT NEVER SAW THE CE-188, BUT DID FEEL THE IMPACT ON THE TAIL OF THE PIPER. THE TIRE OF THE CE-188 STRUCK THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL SURFACE OF THE PA-22, DAMAGING THE CONTROL SURFACE. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE LANDED WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.