Pembroke Pines, United States: A flight training aircraft carrying two women crashed shortly after takeoff from North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on May 29, leaving both occupants injured but alive after the aircraft came down on the campus of a state psychiatric hospital.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the accident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time when a Cessna 172P Skyhawk, registration N96100, crashed moments after departing North Perry Airport (HWO), one of South Florida’s busiest general aviation airports.
The aircraft overturned after impacting terrain on the grounds of South Florida State Hospital near 800 East Cypress Drive, just north of the airport.
Authorities confirmed that two women were aboard the aircraft. Both occupants were rescued from the wreckage and transported to a nearby hospital as trauma patients. Pembroke Pines Police said both women were conscious and breathing when emergency responders arrived at the scene.
The aircraft was operating as a training flight and was associated with Blue Sky Aviation, a flight school based at North Perry Airport. Local officials said the occupants were believed to be a flight instructor and a student pilot, although authorities had not publicly identified either individual.
Pembroke Pines Mayor Angelo Castillo said preliminary information indicated that the aircraft suffered an engine failure shortly after departure.
“The plane took off westbound, and shortly after it took off, it experienced engine failure and went to make a turn, probably to try to go back to the airport, and didn’t have altitude,” Castillo said.
According to the mayor, the aircraft struck a tree before descending into a drainage ditch or retention area, where it overturned.
Emergency responders reported that the aircraft came to rest upside down in a grassy area near an empty retention pond. Fire crews also mitigated a small fuel leak at the accident site. No post-crash fire occurred. Officials said the occupants complained of back pain but survived the crash.
The aircraft crashed on the campus of South Florida State Hospital, a psychiatric and mental health treatment facility located immediately adjacent to North Perry Airport.
Mayor Castillo said the accident could have had far more serious consequences. “It’s a good thing because it was headed right for a building where patients receiving mental health and medical care live,” he said. No injuries were reported among hospital staff, patients, visitors, or people on the ground. Authorities stated that the crash site did not affect traffic in the surrounding area. FAA records identify the aircraft as a Cessna 172P registered as N96100.
Records reviewed following the accident show the aircraft is linked to Blue Sky Aviation, a South Florida flight training organization operating at North Perry Airport. Additional records indicate ownership connections with Trajectory Aviation LLC, a Hollywood-based aviation company that provides flight training and aerial imaging services.
Blue Sky Aviation is operated by Pembroke Pines Commissioner Jay Schwartz, who was reportedly present at the accident scene after the crash. The company had not publicly commented on the accident immediately following the event.
The accident has renewed longstanding concerns among residents and local officials regarding aviation safety around North Perry Airport.
Mayor Castillo criticized the frequency of accidents involving aircraft operating from the airport, describing the issue as an ongoing concern for the community.
“These crashes continue to happen,” Castillo said, noting that numerous accidents and incidents have occurred involving aircraft operating from the airport in recent years.
North Perry Airport is owned and operated by Broward County and serves as a major hub for flight training activity. The airport is home to multiple flight schools and experiences a high volume of training operations daily.
According to county officials, the airport passed its Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) annual inspection earlier in May with zero discrepancies, marking the 26th consecutive year without safety, regulatory, or operational violations identified during the inspection.
In a statement, Broward County Aviation officials said, “As a Broward County-owned and operated airport, safety is a top priority at HWO. While the County will not speculate as to the cause or causes of this accident, we will be cooperating with the authorities as they conduct their investigation.” The FAA has opened an investigation into the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to review the event as part of the federal investigative process.
