Cessna 172 and Cessna 182 accident near Islip, New York, August 11, 1987
On August 11, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N9425D) and Cessna 182 (N4868N), were involved in the same accident near Islip, New York (Islip 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Islip, New York · Islip · 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 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N9425D · no longer on the register · serial 172RG1156
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N4868N · registry record · serial 18267425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, CESSNA 172, N9425D, EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A BROKEN HYDRAULIC FLUID LINE. N9425D ROLLED INTO ANOTHER CESSNA. BOTH AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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 182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, CESSNA 172, N9425D, EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A BROKEN HYDRAULIC FLUID LINE. N9425D ROLLED INTO ANOTHER CESSNA. BOTH AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,653 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 313 in the last 90 days; 1,534 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,247 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1986; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Islip NY at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33L, 5,186 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33L, 5,186 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.