What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On feb 20, 2025 about 1110 local time, a Cessna 172M, was substantially damaged when it was involved with an accident at the Kalaeloa airfield (jrf) due to wake turbulence from a C17.
Student pilot performed 6 touch and goes, then CFI took controls to demonstrate a power off 180. CFI was approved for short approach on runway 4L and was advised of a C17 departing runway 4R. Controller instructed for CFI to report C17 on sight and caution wake. CFI reports C17 in sight and proceeded to pull power to idle as he glided to 4L. Simultaneously, C17 was cleared for takeoff and CFI spotted it beginning to roll. As the CFI touch down, C17 had began its climb. Shortly after CFI began takeoff roll and as he started to rotate, C17 appeared to begin it's turn outbound. CFI climb initially went well until 100' AGL where wake was encountered causing a steep bank left. CFI countered the roll and dive and was able to level wings before bouncing off the bravo taxiway with all 3 wheels hitting nearly simultaneously, which caused the windshield to shatter as the pilot's bag exited the aircraft through the windshield. CFI headset came off his head so the student pilot declared an emergency. Aircraft landed with no further issues.
Accident investigation revealed aircraft damage to windshield, bent MLG LH, cracked fairings on both MLG, right wing roof ripple, and warped firewall.
Minor injuries to both CFI and student pilot, cuts on arm, elbow, and thigh.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEB 20, 2025 ABOUT 1110 LOCAL TIME, A CESSNA 172M, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED WITH AN ACCIDENT AT THE KALAELOA AIRFIELD (JRF) DUE TO WAKE TURBULENCE FROM A C17.
STUDENT PILOT PERFORMED 6 TOUCH AND GOES, THEN CFI TOOK CONTROLS TO DEMONSTRATE A POWER OFF 180. CFI WAS APPROVED FOR SHORT APPROACH ON RUNWAY 4L AND WAS ADVISED OF A C17 DEPARTING RUNWAY 4R. CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED FOR CFI TO REPORT C17 ON SIGHT AND CAUTION WAKE. CFI REPORTS C17 IN SIGHT AND PROCEEDED TO PULL POWER TO IDLE AS HE GLIDED TO 4L. SIMULTANEOUSLY, C17 WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF AND CFI SPOTTED IT BEGINNING TO ROLL. AS THE CFI TOUCH DOWN, C17 HAD BEGAN ITS CLIMB. SHORTLY AFTER CFI BEGAN TAKEOFF ROLL AND AS HE STARTED TO ROTATE, C17 APPEARED TO BEGIN IT'S TURN OUTBOUND. CFI CLIMB INITIALLY WENT WELL UNTIL 100' AGL WHERE WAKE WAS ENCOUNTERED CAUSING A STEEP BANK LEFT. CFI COUNTERED THE ROLL AND DIVE AND WAS ABLE TO LEVEL WINGS BEFORE BOUNCING OFF THE BRAVO TAXIWAY WITH ALL 3 WHEELS HITTING NEARLY SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHICH CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER AS THE PILOT'S BAG EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. CFI HEADSET CAME OFF HIS HEAD SO THE STUDENT PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. AIRCRAFT LANDED WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED AIRCRAFT DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD, BENT MLG LH, CRACKED FAIRINGS ON BOTH MLG, RIGHT WING ROOF RIPPLE, AND WARPED FIREWALL.
MINOR INJURIES TO BOTH CFI AND STUDENT PILOT, CUTS ON ARM, ELBOW, AND THIGH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.