Cessna 172 N172CN

Summary

On 12 December 2023 at about 00:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N172CN was involved in an accident near Kapolei, Hawaii, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 December 2023 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kapolei, Hawaii, United States

Nearest airport

Kalaeloa Airport - John Rodger (PHJR)

Coordinates

21.3103, -158.0713

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N172CN

Category

Airplane

Year built

2020

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Honolulu → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC24LA010

Nobody was injured.

The first pilot’s failure to maintain a stabilized approach, in gusty crosswind conditions, in an environment favoring wake turbulence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The first pilot, seated in the left seat, and the second pilot, seated in the right seat, both flight instructors, reported that the purpose of the flight was to accumulate additional flight time and practice various flight maneuvers. The first pilot reported that while she was performing a simulated, power-off, 180° landing to Runway 4L, adjacent to a large military airplane operating in the traffic pattern of a parallel runway, the accident airplane began a rapid descent while on short final. To arrest the rapid descent, the first pilot said she initiated a go-around by applying full engine power, but the rapid descend continued, and the airplane touched down hard before becoming airborne again. Airport wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be, 120°, at 10 knots, with peak gusts to 17 knots, which translates to a quartering, right tailwind. The second pilot reported that, prior to the accident sequence, as the approach to Runway 4L continued, the first pilot decided to lower the nose to gain airspeed and enter ground effect. The second pilot stated that, as the airplane passed through 75 to 50 ft above the runway, the airplane encountered an unusual sink rate, and he reacted by pulling back on the yoke as he yelled “flare” just before the airplane touched down hard. The second pilot reported that the airplane subsequently touched down hard, bounced back into the air, and the first pilot then initiated a go-around. After establishing a climb on the go-around, the first pilot transferred control to the second pilot, who subsequently performed a precautionary full-stop landing to check for damage. During the landing roll, the nose wheel deflated, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway, disabled. A post-flight inspection revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilots reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.