Cessna 150 and Cessna 172 accident near Farmingdale, New York, August 30, 2025
On August 30, 2025 at about 1:03 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150 (N22998) and Cessna 172 (N6185U), were involved in the same accident near Farmingdale, New York (Farmingdale Republic Airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Cessna 150 pilot’s decision to taxi in front of an oncoming Cessna 172, which resulted in a ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the Cessna 150 pilot’s momentary distraction, which delayed his recognition of the impending collision.
The Cessna 150 pilot’s decision to taxi in front of an oncoming Cessna 172, which resulted in a ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the Cessna 150 pilot’s momentary distraction, which delayed his recognition of the impending collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2025 · about 1:03 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Farmingdale Republic Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150 H, built 1968 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N22998 · registry record · serial 15068670
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 S, built 2008 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6185U · registry record · serial 172S10719
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150 final · quoted from the NTSB record
After receiving taxi instructions from ground control, the Cessna 172, operated by the student pilot, with a flight instructor began taxiing from the tiedown location for departure. About the same time, the pilot of a nearby Cessna 150, also with intention for flight, observed the Cessna 172 taxiing toward his position and, believing the airplane had slowed to allow him to enter the taxiway, pulled forward from his tiedown location. Both airplanes were operating within a non-movement area where air traffic control clearance was not required. The Cessna 150 pilot reported that after moving forward, he briefly glanced at his instruments, which momentarily diverted his attention. When he looked up, he observed the Cessna 172 continuing to taxi toward him and attempted evasive maneuvers, but was unable to avoid a collision. The flight instructor of the Cessna 172 reported that while taxiing, the Cessna 150 pulled out of its parking position unexpectedly and without warning, directly into their path. He applied the brakes; however, the propeller of the Cessna 150 contacted the right wing of the Cessna 172, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing spar. The Cessna 172 flight instructor and the Cessna 150 pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with either airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
After receiving taxi instructions from ground control, the Cessna 172, operated by the student pilot, with a flight instructor began taxiing from the tiedown location for departure. About the same time, the pilot of a nearby Cessna 150, also with intention for flight, observed the Cessna 172 taxiing toward his position and, believing the airplane had slowed to allow him to enter the taxiway, pulled forward from his tiedown location. Both airplanes were operating within a non-movement area where air traffic control clearance was not required. The Cessna 150 pilot reported that after moving forward, he briefly glanced at his instruments, which momentarily diverted his attention. When he looked up, he observed the Cessna 172 continuing to taxi toward him and attempted evasive maneuvers, but was unable to avoid a collision. The flight instructor of the Cessna 172 reported that while taxiing, the Cessna 150 pulled out of its parking position unexpectedly and without warning, directly into their path. He applied the brakes; however, the propeller of the Cessna 150 contacted the right wing of the Cessna 172, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing spar. The Cessna 172 flight instructor and the Cessna 150 pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with either airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 150 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,625 as pilot in command; 20 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 7, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,502 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 4,029 hours total
- Operator: Busy Bees Airways CORP
The flight
- Destination: KVAY Mount Holly NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from FRG
Weather report (METAR): KFRG 301253Z 31007KT 10SM CLR 18/09 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP175 T01780094
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 67 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 656 hours in all; 656 in this make and model; 176 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 567 as pilot in command; 384 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 25, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,352 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 7, 2025; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 11,395 hours total
- Operator: Academy Of Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Annotated Google Earth Image Depicting Accident Site Location
Photograph 2 – View of Resting Position of Both Airplanes
Photograph 3 – View of Resting Position of Both Airplanes
Photograph 4 – Close up View Showing Right Wing Spar Damage to N6185U
Photograph 5 – View of Damage to One Propeller Blade of N22998The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N22998 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N6185U | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Chronological Summary of Flight Communications | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.