# NTSB NYC07LA209: North American SNJ-2, N62382, Farmingdale, NY, September 2, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2007, 10:55 local (14:55 UTC) - Place: Farmingdale, NY - Coordinates: 40.72861, -73.41333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7286&lon=-73.4133&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66570 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66570/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA209 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The number 5 airplane pilot's inadequate visual lookout. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The number 5 airplane pilot's inadequate visual lookout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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." ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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." ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On September 2, 2007, at 1055 eastern daylight time, a North American SNJ-2, N62382, was substantially damaged when it was struck by another North American SNJ-2, N52033, while taxiing at Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York. Both certificated airline transport pilots were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the local aerial advertising formation flight, which was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The accident airplanes were operating as part of a five airplane, aerial advertising formation flight. N62382, the airplane struck, was operating as the number 4 airplane in the formation, and the other airplane, N52033, was operating as the number 5 airplane. According to the pilot of airplane 5, the airplanes were parked in the order 1, 3, 5, 4, and 2, with airplanes 1 and 3 to his left, and airplanes 4 and 2 to his right. 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 then taxied out of the parking spot to join the formation. The pilot then began to turn the airplane left when he observed a "flurry of debris" to his left. He immediately shut down the engine, and after exiting the airplane, realized that his airplane had struck airplane 4. The propeller of airplane 5 had damaged the left aileron, and outer aft portion of the left wing of airplane 4. Additionally, the pitot tube, located on the right wing of airplane 5 had damaged the rudder of airplane 4. The pilot additionally described that the due to the tail wheel-equipped airplane's attitude on the ground, it was impossible to see over the nose of the airplane. He also stated that he that during the brief time that he was putting in his ear plugs, he "lost situational awareness." The pilot of airplane 5 held an airline transport pilot certificate with numerous ratings including airplane single engine land privileges at the commercial pilot level. The pilot's most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was dated July 2006, and at that time he reported 10,975 total hours of flight experience. The pilot of airplane 4 held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multiengine land, and a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. The pilot's most recent application for an FAA second class medical certificate was dated April 2007, and at that time he reported 21,000 total hours of flight experience. The weather conditions reported at FRG, at 1053, included clear skies, 10 miles visibility, and winds from 030 degrees at 6 knots. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On September 2, 2007, at 1055 eastern daylight time, a North American SNJ-2, N62382, was substantially damaged when it was struck by another North American SNJ-2, N52033, while taxiing at Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York. Both certificated airline transport pilots were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the local aerial advertising formation flight, which was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The accident airplanes were operating as part of a five airplane, aerial advertising formation flight. N62382, the airplane struck, was operating as the number 4 airplane in the formation, and the other airplane, N52033, was operating as the number 5 airplane. According to the pilot of airplane 5, the airplanes were parked in the order 1, 3, 5, 4, and 2, with airplanes 1 and 3 to his left, and airplanes 4 and 2 to his right. 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 then taxied out of the parking spot to join the formation. The pilot then began to turn the airplane left when he observed a "flurry of debris" to his left. He immediately shut down the engine, and after exiting the airplane, realized that his airplane had struck airplane 4. The propeller of airplane 5 had damaged the left aileron, and outer aft portion of the left wing of airplane 4. Additionally, the pitot tube, located on the right wing of airplane 5 had damaged the rudder of airplane 4. The pilot additionally described that the due to the tail wheel-equipped airplane's attitude on the ground, it was impossible to see over the nose of the airplane. He also stated that he that during the brief time that he was putting in his ear plugs, he "lost situational awareness." The pilot of airplane 5 held an airline transport pilot certificate with numerous ratings including airplane single engine land privileges at the commercial pilot level. The pilot's most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was dated July 2006, and at that time he reported 11,200 total hours of flight experience. The pilot of airplane 4 held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multiengine land, and a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. The pilot's most recent application for an FAA second class medical certificate was dated April 2007, and at that time he reported 21,000 total hours of flight experience. The weather conditions reported at FRG, at 1053, included clear skies, 10 miles visibility, and winds from 030 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N62382](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62382-2019-01-17), registration cancelled 2019-01-17, S/N 2039, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American SNJ-2 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-2) (registry code 6400404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2039 - Airframe hours: 4638 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: SNJ-2 Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2006 - Departed: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Destination: FRG - Airport: FRG, Republic Airport ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N52033](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52033-2009-02-18), registration cancelled 2009-02-18, S/N 2040, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American SNJ-2 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-2) (registry code 6400404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2040 - Airframe hours: 6357 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: SNJ-2 Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007 - Departed: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Destination: FRG - Airport: FRG, Republic Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N62382; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 21,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N52033; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 10,975 total, 650 in this make and model, 9,694 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: FRG, 1 nm away ## Other investigations on N62382 (3) 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. - [NTSB WPR18FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA155), May 30, 2018: North American SNJ 2 (N62382), Melville, NY, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, spin, and subsequent impact with terrain. - [NTSB NYC82DA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82DA078), Apr 23, 1982: North American SNJ-2 (N62382), Flushing, NY, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X1183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1183), Apr 5, 1964: No American SNJ2 (N62382), Flushing Bay, NY, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.