# NTSB ERA26LA076: Cessna 172N, N1517E, East Farmingdale, NY, December 22, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 22, 2025, 14:22 local (19:22 UTC)
- Place: East Farmingdale, NY
- Coordinates: 40.729274, -73.413421 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7293&lon=-73.4134&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202202
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202202/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202202
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA076

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

A loss of brake effectiveness during taxi, which resulted in a collision with another airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

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.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N1517E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1517E), registered now, S/N 17271031, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271031
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 2510
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-h2ad 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Academy Of Aviation
- Registered owner: Heavy Metal Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 11, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: FRG, Republic, runway 32, 6,833 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N65199](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65199), registered now, S/N 15284323, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15284323
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 13613.9
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Long Island Aviators LLC
- Registered owner: Long Island Aviators LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 17, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N1517E; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 160.8 total, 160.8 in this make and model, 79.2 as pilot in command, 56.1 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor, aircraft N1517E; age 36; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,315.3 total, 1,085.5 in this make and model, 1,238.8 as pilot in command, 54.7 in the last 90 days, 16.8 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot, aircraft N65199; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: 3-point
- Flight instructor, aircraft N65199; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.51 inHg
- Observed at: FRG
- METAR: METAR KFRG 221853Z 30005KT 10SM CLR 03/M08 A3043 RMK AO2 SLP305 T00331083

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20251222019752A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251222019752A), Dec 22, 2025: Cessna 152, Farmingdale, NY, Substantial damage. N65199 (C152) was 2nd in line for the hold short of runway 32. N1517E was taxiing to the runup area of runway 32. The pilot of the C172 stated the right brake…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202202. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 a/c 1517E (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19942908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02-pilot%206120_Redacted%201517E-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 a/c 65199 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19942859&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04-pilot%206120%2065199_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Mor telephone interview with maintenance (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19946946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05-MOR%20Interview%20with%20maintenance_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19942989&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-Photo%20array%20in%20PDF-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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