# Accident 20260918013379A: Cessna 172R, Kaunakakai, HI, September 18, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2026, 15:00 local time
- Place: Kaunakakai, HI
- Airport: Molokai
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 21.1516° N, 157.0972° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.1516&lon=-157.0972&mi=10
- Aircraft: N429ES, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N429ES) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172R (registry code 2072401, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 914 total, 523 in this make and model, 214 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA365) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260918013379A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL POLICY 8900.1, VOL.7, CH1, SEC1 & ORDER 8020.11D CHG 1. ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 15:00 HST, A CESSNA 172 SUSTAINED SEVERE IMPACT UPON TOUCHDOWN FOLLOWED BY A BOUNCED LANDING AT MOLOKAI AIRPORT (PHMK) WHILE CREWED BY A PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC/CFI) AND A STUDENT PILOT. THE SEQUENCE RESULTED IN A PROPELLER STRIKE AND SUBSTANTIAL AIRFRAME DAMAGE, CATEGORIZED BY THE NTSB AS AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE PIC/CFI STATED THAT AN ELEVATOR CONTROL JAM PREVENTED A PROPER FLARE, POST-ACCIDENT TECHNICAL INSPECTION AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE REVEALED ZERO MECHANICAL FAILURE, OR SYSTEM ANOMALIES WITHIN THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BEFORE OR AFTER TOUCHDOWN. WITH FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A STABILIZED APPROACH, MANAGE TOUCHDOWN SINK RATE, AND SELECT AN APPROPRIATE FLAP CONFIGURATION FOR THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, RESULTED IN AN INITIAL SEVERE IMPACT THAT RENDERED THE AIRCRAFT UNRECOVERABLE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR26LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA365), Sep 19, 2026: Cessna 172R (N429ES), Ho'olehua, HI, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N429ES (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20180511016959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180511016959I), May 11, 2018: Cessna 172R (N429ES), Kapolei, HI, Minor damage. Airplane single engine land student pilot was conducting 5th solo flight towards a prviate pilot sel certificate at jrf airport. On second pattern student…
- [Accident 20161005016219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161005016219A), Oct 5, 2016: Cessna 172R (N429ES), Kapolei, HI, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted]Reported accident because rental plane owner told him to report. Bent firewall may of been caused by hard landing [privacy data omitted]…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.