Learjet Safe after Losing Right Elevator

On December 1 a Learjet 36 with two pilots and one passenger aboard lost its right elevator while maneuvering off the coast of San Diego. According to the NTSB the jet “joined up with another airplane and was doing a cross-under maneuver. The pilot lost sight of the other airplane due to sun glare and turned away. When the pilot reacquired his visual acuity, the airplane was in a 70-degree angle of bank and 50 degrees nose low. He reduced power and leveled the wings.” After the airplane returned to base, an examination revealed that the right elevator was gone, and the left elevator had permanent deformation.