Piper PA34 accident near Pembroke Pines, Florida, May 12, 2020
On May 12, 2020 at about 12:58 pm local time, a 1973 Piper PA34, registered N887SP, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Pembroke Pines, Florida (North Perry airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of power in the right engine for reasons that could not be determined based on available information. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s decision to turn 180° before securing the right engine, which resulted in a loss of altitude and subsequent impact with powerlines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2020 · about 12:58 pm local time
- Place
- Pembroke Pines, Florida · North Perry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA34 200, built 1973 · all PA34s on the register
- Registration
- N887SP · no longer on the register · serial 34-7350124
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, about 10 minutes into the instructional flight, the right engine lost power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and according to radar data turned right 180° toward the departure airport. The airplane descended from about 775 ft to 450 ft during the turn. The flight instructor stated that the right engine was windmilling while in the turn and that he did not secure it until after completing the turn back to the departure airport. The flight instructor stated that after the turn, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude as a result of the left engine not producing full power, so he attempted to land the airplane on a residential street. The airplane impacted powerlines and then a road, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engines revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. Therefore, it could not be determined why the right engine lost power and why the left engine appeared to only produce partial power. It is likely the flight instructor’s decision to turn 180° before securing the right engine resulted in a loss of altitude needed to make the return flight back to the airport at a safe altitude above ground obstacles.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 535.6 hours in all; 342.1 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 3, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,999 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 8,881 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 9,514 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Delaware Trust Co Trustee
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL at 12:45 pm
- Destination: HWO Hollywood FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:17 pm from HWO, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 2022. 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.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.