Cirrus SR22 accident near Kapolei, Hawaii, January 7, 2020
On January 7, 2020 at about 1:05 am local time, a 2007 Cirrus SR22, registered N779LB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Kapolei, Hawaii (Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field)). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's loss of airplane control during a short field takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, and the designated pilot examiner's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 2020 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Kapolei, Hawaii · Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22, built 2007 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N779LB · no longer on the register · serial 2499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was taking his private pilot checkride and was performing a soft-field takeoff from a touch-and-go. The student pilot reported that immediately after the takeoff, the airplane experienced “windshear" from the right and the airplane banked left and drifted left of centerline. He corrected with right aileron, which at first had no effect, then the airplane rapidly banked right and the right-wing tip struck the runway surface. The airplane then banked and yawed left and pitched up. The airplane descended from about 15 ft in a nose low left wing down attitude and impacted the runway surface hard The designated pilot examiner (DPE) stated that the student pilot performed a good soft field landing and then after the soft-field takeoff, the right wing suddenly dipped, and the wingtip struck the runway. As the DPE was about to say "abort," the airplane pitched up and rolled left. The DPE then got on the controls with the student pilot and they both had full right aileron applied, but the airplane did not respond and subsequently impacted the runway. The fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Designated examiner
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 45.7 hours in all; 44.7 in this make and model; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, military, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,567 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 28, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,723.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 11, 2019; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550N (piston); 288 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: JRF Kapolei HI
- Destination: JRF Kapolei HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04R, 8,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from PHJR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 10, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Dpe Record of Conversation (Paget) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.