The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ERA26LA076 · Final report

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).

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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
December 22, 2025 · about 7:22 pm local time · cases in 2025
Place
East Farmingdale, New York · Republic · cases near this airport · 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

  1. Ground collision during taxi defining event
  2. Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi

The NTSB's findings

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

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2

The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event

The NTSB's findings

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

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2

Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

Photograph 1 – View of left side of both aircraft at scene, from the NTSB investigation of Cessna 172N and Cessna 152 accident near East Farmingdale, New York, December 22, 2025Photograph 1 – View of left side of both aircraft at scenePhotograph 2 – View of point of contact between aircraft at scene, from the NTSB investigation of Cessna 172N and Cessna 152 accident near East Farmingdale, New York, December 22, 2025Photograph 2 – View of point of contact between aircraft at scenePhotograph 3 – View of minor damage to leading edge of left wing of N1517E, from the NTSB investigation of Cessna 172N and Cessna 152 accident near East Farmingdale, New York, December 22, 2025Photograph 3 – View of minor damage to leading edge of left wing of N1517EPhotograph 4 – Rear view of substantial damage to N65199, from the NTSB investigation of Cessna 172N and Cessna 152 accident near East Farmingdale, New York, December 22, 2025Photograph 4 – Rear view of substantial damage to N65199Photograph 5 – Close up of substantial damage to tail of N65199, from the NTSB investigation of Cessna 172N and Cessna 152 accident near East Farmingdale, New York, December 22, 2025Photograph 5 – Close up of substantial damage to tail of N65199

The 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 May 21, 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.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 A/c 1517E PDF, 10 pages View Download
2 Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 A/c 65199 PDF, 10 pages View Download
3 Mor Telephone Interview with Maintenance PDF, 1 page View Download
4 Investigation Photos 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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA076.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.