Cessna 172 instructor pilot reported a near miss with a Cessna Citation while climbing VFR to an ATC issued altitude. The jet was descending at a higher rate of speed on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern; when the instructor stopped the climb and flew under the jet.

Date: 2026-01 · Aircraft: PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior · Phase: climb

Anomalies: ATC issue all typesConflict near mid-air collision (NMAC)Deviation altitude undershootDeviation speed all typesDeviation discrepancy procedural FARDeviation discrepancy procedural published material policy

Synopsis

Cessna 172 instructor pilot reported a near miss with a Cessna Citation while climbing VFR to an ATC issued altitude. The jet was descending at a higher rate of speed on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern; when the instructor stopped the climb and flew under the jet.

Narrative

While departing VFR from ZZZ; I instructed student to turn North toward ZZZ1.ATCT operator instructed me to climb to 2500 MSL; into the Cessna citation on downwind. Citation was descending with a 230 knot ground speed. I could see both traffic targets on ForeFlight and asked the controller if we could stay at our current altitude and heading. ATCT operator said yes. We narrowly missed the jet; even though we stopped the climb. This occurred inside the Class D airspace. The Citation was descending in the downwind while traveling well over the FAA at established 200 knot limitation while in class D airspace.We flew under the jet by about 200 feet. Jet operator was traveling too fast while descending in the pattern. ATC didn't have a chance to keep us separated.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.