What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) At 0738 MST, on October 22, 2008, and approximately 14NM southeast of the Grand Junction airport (gjt), N3389D struck N731NX while traveling 120 knots and at approximately 10,000 feet. The pilot, privacy data omitted, was looking out the right passenger window when he was alerted by his passenger to the oncoming aircraft (N731NX). privacy data omitted Pushed full forward on the control yoke in an attempt to avoid N731NX. Upon impact, the upper two thirds of his aircraft's vertical stabilator was sheared off and his aircraft entered a violent roll to the right and yawed approximately 270 to the right. privacy data omitted Regained level flight by applying full left aileron. He then performed an emergency landing south of the impact area on southerly heading. privacy data omitted Reported only to have pitch and power to control the aircraft. After landing the aircraft flipped over and came to rest upsidedown on a northerly heading.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AT 0738 MST, ON OCTOBER 22, 2008, AND APPROXIMATELY 14NM SOUTHEAST OF THE GRAND JUNCTION AIRPORT (GJT), N3389D STRUCK N731NX WHILE TRAVELING 120 KNOTS AND AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 FEET. THE PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS LOOKING OUT THE RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW WHEN HE WAS ALERTED BY HIS PASSENGER TO THE ONCOMING AIRCRAFT (N731NX). ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PUSHED FULL FORWARD ON THE CONTROL YOKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID N731NX. UPON IMPACT, THE UPPER TWO THIRDS OF HIS AIRCRAFT'S VERTICAL STABILATOR WAS SHEARED OFF AND HIS AIRCRAFT ENTERED A VIOLENT ROLL TO THE RIGHT AND YAWED APPROXIMATELY 270 TO THE RIGHT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REGAINED LEVEL FLIGHT BY APPLYING FULL LEFT AILERON. HE THEN PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING SOUTH OF THE IMPACT AREA ON SOUTHERLY HEADING. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REPORTED ONLY TO HAVE PITCH AND POWER TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER LANDING THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST UPSIDEDOWN ON A NORTHERLY HEADING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N3389D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.