CV-22B Proprotor Strike at Inyokern Airfield (08-000039)

Incident Overview and Investigation Authority On 17 August 2023, at approximately 0945 Mountain Standard Time, a United States Air Force CV-22B aircraft, tail number 08-000039, struck the proprotor of a second CV-22B, tail number 09-000046, while taxiing into a parking spot at Inyokern Airfield in California. The incident occurred during a Functional Check Flight mission. Lieutenant General Tony D. Bauernfeind, Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, appointed Colonel Jeff McMaster to lead the Accident Investigation Board on 7 September 2023. The board conducted its investigation from 18 September to 13 October 2023 at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico and Hurlburt Field in Florida, in accordance with Air Force Instruction 51-307. The board included a legal advisor, medical member, pilot member, maintenance member, and recorder.