What happened
On February 20, 2025, at approximately 11:10 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Cessna 172M, registration N19867, was involved in an accident near Kapolei, Hawaii. The aircraft was being operated by Pacific Flight Academy LLC as part of a Part 91 instructional flight.
Following six touch-and-go landings on runway 4L at Kalaeloa Airport (PHJR), the flight instructor took control of the aircraft to demonstrate a power-off, 180-degree landing. During the maneuver, the instructor noted that the tower controller had cleared a Boeing C-17 Globemaster for takeoff on runway 4R. After touching down on runway 4L, the instructor retracted the flaps and initiated another takeoff attempt.
As the aircraft climbed through approximately 100 feet agl, it experienced an abrupt left roll and a sharp nose pitch down. The instructor managed to level the wings and partially arrest the descent, but the main landing gear struck an adjacent taxiway, causing the airplane to bounce back into the air. The impact shattered the windshield and dislodged the instructor's headset. To avoid a nearby building and trees, the instructor performed a go-around and instructed the student pilot to declare an emergency. The crew subsequently completed an emergency landing on runway 22R at PHJR. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries and 0 fatalities.
The investigation
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, firewall, and wings. The wreckage was moved to a secure location for further examination.