National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report

Location: Hollywood, FL Accident Number: ERA20LA177

Date & Time: 05/12/2020, 0900 EDT Registration: N887SP
Aircraft: Piper PA34 Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional

On May 12, 2020, about 0900 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N887SP, was
substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hollywood, Florida. The flight
instructor was seriously injured, and the student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was
operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

According to the flight instructor, they departed North Perry Airport (HWO), Hollywood,
Florida, for the practice area which was located about 14 miles west of HWO. He stated that
halfway to the practice area "the right engine failed." He followed the engine checklist and
secured the right engine, then communicated with the HWO control tower relaying the engine
failure while turning the airplane back toward HWO. He stated that the airplane was unable to
maintain altitude and positioned the airplane to land on a city street. While descending across
a major intersection, the airplane struck powerlines, impacted a residential road, and slid
about 750 ft before striking a tree on the right side of the road. The flight instructor stated he
was exiting the airplane when an explosion occurred and a postcrash fire ensued.

Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and a
representative from the airframe manufacturer revealed that the airplane came to rest upright
on the right side of a road near a commercial building. All major components of the airplane
were accounted for and the postcrash fire consumed most of the cockpit, cabin, and right wing.
The left wing had separated during the impact and was located near the main wreckage.

Initial postaccident examination of the airframe and engines by an FAA inspector and
manufacturer representatives revealed no evidence of any preimpact failures or malfunctions.

Page 1 of 2 ERA20LA177
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper Registration: N887SP
Model/Series: PA34 200 Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file Operating Certificate(s) Pilot School (141)
Held:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: HWO, 9 ft msl Observation Time: 1317 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 16°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 4000 ft agl Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 14 knots / 19 knots, 50°
Lowest Ceiling: None Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.13 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Hollywood, FL (HWO) Destination: Hollywood, FL (HWO)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: On-Ground
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious Latitude, Longitude: 25.993056, -80.294722 (est)
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Peter C Wentz
Additional Participating Persons: Juan Garcia; FAA FSDO; Miami, FL
Damian Galbraith; Piper Aircraft; Vero Beach, FL
Mike Childers; Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, PA
Note: The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Page 2 of 2 ERA20LA177
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.