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
Melbourne, FL N642FT Substantial None Standing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Atlantic City, NJ N1449H Substantial Minor Initial climb Not determined
Stuart, FL N2571U Destroyed Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Elkmont, AL N8878E Destroyed Fatal Prior to flight Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Clewiston, FL N9236L Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Lancaster, CA N6313C Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Princeton, MN N526PU Substantial None Maneuvering Environmental issues, Aircraft
Danville, VA N9089N Destroyed Fatal Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
Okeechobee, FL N614FT Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Oskaloosa, IA N47539 Substantial Minor Enroute Not determined
Cottonwood, AZ N47717 Substantial Serious Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Chandler, AZ N8115Q Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues
Valparaiso, IN N6183H Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues
Lake Wales, FL N373CA Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Melbourne, FL N602FT Substantial None Standing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Lake Wales, FL N746RA Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues
Arcola, TX N800KA Substantial Minor Approach Not determined
Mexico, MO N158EA Substantial Fatal Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Rapid City, SD N20GG Substantial None Enroute Environmental issues, Aircraft
Raleigh, NC N8330S Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Okeechobee, FL N9249L Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft
Quinton, VA N81917 Substantial Minor Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft
Crystal River, FL N18PE Substantial None Landing Personnel issues
Ormond Beach, FL N9202C Substantial Serious Initial climb Personnel issues, Aircraft
Goodyear, AZ N434K Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft

Page 4 of 6 (showing accidents 76–100 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.