Cessna 172P accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, January 26, 2012
On January 26, 2012 at about 9:06 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N66540, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Honolulu, Hawaii (Honolulu International Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s improper landing flare and inadequate directional control while performing an aborted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2012 · about 9:06 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Honolulu International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N66540 · registry record · serial 17275990
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, during a solo flight, she made a normal approach, and the airplane touched down firmly on the runway and bounced twice. The pilot neutralized the flight controls to stop the bouncing. When directed by the tower air traffic controller to go-around, she applied full power, turned off the carburetor heat, and raised the flaps. As she raised the airplane’s nosewheel off of the ground, the airplane veered to the left, exited the runway surface, and struck a runway sign. The airplane’s firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 22, 2011; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 Series (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Moore Air Incorporated
The flight
- Departed from: PHJR Kapolei HI at 8:50 pm
- Destination: PHNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04L, 6,952 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PHNL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on March 1, 2012. 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 |
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.