New Piper PA-28-161

Aircraft Manufacturer: New Piper

Model: PA-28-161

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer New Piper
Manufacturer Serial Number 7103200
Model PA-28-161
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
Weight Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Reciprocating
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 4 seats
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Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

100%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


101 exact, 46 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
147
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


21 fatal accidents.

14.3% of recorded accidents were fatal.

1,540
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


31,856 (± 1,073)

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

Within its peer cohort

Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).

This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
2.0%
Exposure
1.6%
Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.

2008 – 2025 Total 147
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 147 observed): 2008 22, 2009 8, 2010 10, 2011 13, 2012 8, 2013 8, 2014 6, 2015 7, 2016 7, 2017 6, 2018 11, 2019 10, 2020 2, 2021 9, 2022 4, 2023 6, 2024 7, 2025 3. 7 14 21 28 0 22 '08 8 '09 10 '10 13 '11 8 '12 8 '13 6 '14 7 '15 7 '16 6 '17 11 '18 10 '19 2 '20 9 '21 4 '22 7 '23 8 '24 3 '25
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

9 categories Total 147
Landing 46
Approach 25
Enroute 20
Initial climb 15
Takeoff 13
Taxi 11
Standing 9
Maneuvering 7
Unknown 1
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 427
Personnel issues 173
Aircraft 128
Environmental issues 108
Not determined 14
Organizational issues 4
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 147
None 94
Fatal 21
Minor 20
Serious 12

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (147)· NUSN (4)

Recorded Accidents

All 147 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Pensacola, FL N8115Y Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Vero Beach, FL N158ND Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Mankato, MN N284MK Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
El Cajon, CA N2587X Substantial Minor Approach Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues
Palatka, FL N84175 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Mohave, AZ N536CA Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Fort Worth, TX N82629 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Carpinteria, CA N2171D Substantial Serious Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Middlebury, VT N31202 Substantial Fatal Initial climb Personnel issues, Aircraft
Latrobe, PA N9097U Substantial Serious Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Honesdale, PA N8237Z Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Merritt Island, FL N601FT Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Not determined
Okeechobee, FL N151DC Substantial Minor Enroute Aircraft, Environmental issues
Miami, FL N8466G Substantial None Enroute Not determined
Everglades, FL N705RA Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues
Fort Worth, TX N2135B Substantial None Approach Environmental issues
Van Nuys, CA N8258S Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Pittsburg, PA N9887K Substantial None Standing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Santee, CA N8441B Substantial Fatal Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Bristow, VA N82587 Substantial Serious Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Ranger, TX N3024S Substantial Serious Enroute Aircraft, Environmental issues
Alexander City, AL N104SA Substantial Minor Standing Aircraft, Personnel issues
New Orleans, LA N8440N Substantial None Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
Buffalo, NY N706GS Substantial Minor Initial climb Not determined
Block Island, RI N2149F Substantial None Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues

Page 3 of 6 (showing accidents 51–75 of 147).

Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.