# Accident 20081022851371A: Cessna 180, Grand Junction, CO, October 22, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 22, 2008, 07:38 local time
- Place: Grand Junction, CO
- Airport: Grand Junction Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9436° N, 108.3497° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9436&lon=-108.3497&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3389D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3389D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180 (registry code 2072602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,841 total, 400 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081022851371A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN09LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA031), Oct 22, 2008: Cessna 180 (N3389D), Whitewater, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing factors in this accident were the Cessna 180 pilot's attention being diverted and the Cessna 210 pilot's vision being affected…

## Other reports on N3389D (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19831230064989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831230064989A), Dec 30, 1983: Cessna 180 (N3389D), Florissant, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted landing on narrow snow ploughed Private strip. Aircraft got in snow and flipped inverted.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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