Cessna 172M accident near Kapolei, Hawaii, February 20, 2025
On February 20, 2025 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N19867, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Kapolei, Hawaii. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2025 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kapolei, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N19867 · registry record · serial 17260818
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 20, 2025, about 1110 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Cessna 172M airplane, N19867, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Kapolei, Hawaii. The flight instructor and student pilot reported minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, after the student pilot completed six touch-and-go landings on runway 4L at the Kalaeloa Airport (PHJR), the flight instructor took control of the airplane while on downwind to demonstrate a power-off, 180 ° landing on runway 4L. As the instructor maneuvered the airplane from downwind, to base leg, and then to final approach, he said he heard the tower controller clear a Boeing C-17 Globemaster airplane for takeoff on runway 4R. The flight instructor reported that after touchdown on runway 4L, he retracted the flaps and began another takeoff. As the airplane passed through about 100 ft. agl, the airplane rolled abruptly to the left and the nose of the airplane pitched down sharply. The flight instructor said he was able to level the wings and partially arrest the rapid descent just before the main landing gear wheels struck the surface of an adjacent taxiway, which subsequently bounced the airplane back into the air. During the collision, the airplane’s windshield shattered, which in turn removed the flight instructor’s headset. As the airplane became airborne again, and to avoid a collision with a building and a stand of trees, the instructor pilot elected to go around. During the go around, the flight instructor told the student pilot to declare an emergency and prepare for an emergency landing at PHJR. A subsequent emergency landing was accomplished on runway 22R at PHJR. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, firewall, and fuselage. The wreckage has been moved to a secure location pending further examination.
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
- Aircraft wake turb encounter during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Pacific Flight Academy LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from PHJR
Weather report (METAR): PHJR 202053Z 10005KT 10SM FEW038 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP211 50006 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.