What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Work was being accomplished on the taxiway the night before the incident. Work area was covered with a lightweight metal plate during the daytime airport operations. As the aircraft taxied out for departure, the plate was lifted up by the exhaust of the aircraft's engine, and struck the r/h horizontal stabilizer.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WORK WAS BEING ACCOMPLISHED ON THE TAXIWAY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT. WORK AREA WAS COVERED WITH A LIGHTWEIGHT METAL PLATE DURING THE DAYTIME AIRPORT OPERATIONS. AS THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED OUT FOR DEPARTURE, THE PLATE WAS LIFTED UP BY THE EXHAUST OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE, AND STRUCK THE R/H HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.