Cessna 172P accident near Kahului, Hawaii, December 23, 2023
On December 23, 2023 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna 172P, registered N53725, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Kahului, Hawaii (Kahului Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in the inability to maintain altitude in the traffic pattern. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2023 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kahului, Hawaii · Kahului Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P, built 1981 · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N53725 · registry record · serial 17274808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after five touch-and-go landings, while on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost partial power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, switched the fuel tanks, and pumped the throttle, but engine power remained at idle. The pilot was unable to reach the runway and performed a forced landing short of the runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing at glide power. Although the pilot reported that he used carburetor heat after experiencing the loss of engine power, it is likely that the ice had already accumulated to the degree that the carburetor heat was insufficient to melt the ice and restore full engine power. Based on the available information, it is likely that the partial loss of engine power was a result of the formation of carburetor ice. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Landing area undershoot during emergency descent
- Fuel related during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 14, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
Passenger
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,858 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 23, 2023; 134.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-D2J (piston); 6,858 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHOG Kahului HI at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 am from HOG, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PHOG 231954Z 05019G25KT 10SM FEW020 25/19 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 05027/1938 SLP207 T02500194
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2025. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Carburetor Icing Probability Graph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.