North American SNJ-2 and North American SNJ-2 accident near Farmingdale, New York, September 2, 2007
On September 2, 2007 at about 2:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, North American SNJ-2 (N62382) and North American SNJ-2 (N52033), were involved in the same accident near Farmingdale, New York (Republic Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The number 5 airplane pilot's inadequate visual lookout.
The number 5 airplane pilot's inadequate visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2007 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Republic Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- North American SNJ-2 · all SNJ-2s on the register
- Registration
- N62382 · no longer on the register · serial 2039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- North American SNJ-2 · all SNJ-2s on the register
- Registration
- N52033 · no longer on the register · serial 2040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the North American SNJ-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident airplanes were operating as part of a five airplane, aerial advertising formation flight. After performing the pretaxi checks, the airplanes in the formation began to taxi. While still in the parking spot, the pilot of airplane 5 realized that he had forgot to put in his earplugs, so he removed his helmet to put them in. After replacing his helmet, he looked up and saw what he thought was airplane 4, whom he was to follow, was no longer in its parking spot, and that the other airplanes had taxied relatively far down the taxiway. The pilot of airplane 5 then taxied out of the parking spot to join the formation and struck the left wing of the number 4 airplane. The pilot stated that during the brief time that he was putting in his ear plugs, he "lost situational awareness."
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 North American SNJ-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident airplanes were operating as part of a five airplane, aerial advertising formation flight. After performing the pretaxi checks, the airplanes in the formation began to taxi. While still in the parking spot, the pilot of airplane 5 realized that he had forgot to put in his earplugs, so he removed his helmet to put them in. After replacing his helmet, he looked up and saw what he thought was airplane 4, whom he was to follow, was no longer in its parking spot, and that the other airplanes had taxied relatively far down the taxiway. The pilot of airplane 5 then taxied out of the parking spot to join the formation and struck the left wing of the number 4 airplane. The pilot stated that during the brief time that he was putting in his ear plugs, he "lost situational awareness."
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 North American SNJ-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 4,440 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Destination: FRG
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from FRG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the North American SNJ-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,975 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 9,694 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,357 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 4,440 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Destination: FRG
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N62382 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.