Cessna 172N and Cessna 152 accident near East Farmingdale, New York, December 22, 2025
On December 22, 2025 at about 7:22 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N1517E) and Cessna 152 (N65199), were involved in the same accident near East Farmingdale, New York (Republic airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of brake effectiveness during taxi, which resulted in a collision with another airplane.
A loss of brake effectiveness during taxi, which resulted in a collision with another airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 2025 · about 7:22 pm local time
- Place
- East Farmingdale, New York · Republic · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172N, built 1978 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1517E · registry record · serial 17271031
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152, built 1980 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N65199 · registry record · serial 15284323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and the flight instructor were departing for an instructional flight, and before beginning their taxi, had tested their airplane’s brakes and noted no anomalies. The subsequent taxi was normal, and as they approached the run-up area, the pilot attempted to apply the right brake but it was ineffective. The flight instructor also attempted to apply the right brake, but during his attempt the pedal went completely to the floor. The airplane’s left wing subsequently struck the empennage of another airplane that was stationary and operating in the runup area, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage of that airplane. The pilot and the flight instructor’s airplane incurred minor damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s brakes by the operator’s maintenance personnel found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures.
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 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and the flight instructor were departing for an instructional flight, and before beginning their taxi, had tested their airplane’s brakes and noted no anomalies. The subsequent taxi was normal, and as they approached the run-up area, the pilot attempted to apply the right brake but it was ineffective. The flight instructor also attempted to apply the right brake, but during his attempt the pedal went completely to the floor. The airplane’s left wing subsequently struck the empennage of another airplane that was stationary and operating in the runup area, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage of that airplane. The pilot and the flight instructor’s airplane incurred minor damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s brakes by the operator’s maintenance personnel found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures.
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 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 160.8 hours in all; 160.8 in this make and model; 56.1 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 79.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 3, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,315.3 hours in all; 1,085.5 in this make and model; 54.7 in the last 90 days; 16.8 in the last 30 days; 1,238.8 as pilot in command; 909.1 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 15, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,510 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2025
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-h2ad (piston); 2,196 hours total
- Operator: Academy Of Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 6,833 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.51 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from FRG
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFRG 221853Z 30005KT 10SM CLR 03/M08 A3043 RMK AO2 SLP305 T00331083
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 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
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Malfunction
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,613.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 17, 2025
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 4,014 hours total
- Operator: Long Island Aviators LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA076.