Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft Inc
Model: PA-28-181
About the Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181
Built by Piper Aircraft for flight training and personal use, the PA-28-181 Archer is a four-seat, single-engine light aircraft that received its type certificate in 1975. The Archer is the most-registered model in Piper's active lineup, with more than 500 airframes still on the U.S. civil registry. About 42% of the maker's active registered fleet is made up of this single type.
More than 200 Archers have left the U.S. registry over the type's history. Measured against every example ever recorded on the register, about a quarter have since been deregistered.
The Archer records about 3.6 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years of FAA-registration exposure. Against comparable types by aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, that rate is lower than about half of them. Of 175 recorded Archer accidents, 22 involved a fatality.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper Aircraft Inc |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7102832 |
| Model | PA-28-181 |
| 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.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
113 exact, 64 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
23 fatal accidents.
12.9% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
49,751 (± 1,630)
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
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 →
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.
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.
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.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (178)· NUSN (6)· 135 (2)· 129 (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 178 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | N494LA | Substantial | Serious | Approach | unknown | |
| Goose Bay, OF | N993DX | unknown | None | unknown | unknown | |
| Chuluota, FL | N658FT | Substantial | None | Enroute | unknown | |
| Sanford, FL | N697LH | Substantial | None | Takeoff | unknown | |
| Scottsdale, AZ | N505AF | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | unknown | |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | N472A | Substantial | None | Landing | unknown | |
| Fort Pierce, FL | N620AC | Substantial | None | Taxi | unknown | |
| Conroe, TX | N6058F | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Environmental issues | |
| Mesa, AZ | N4402N | Substantial | None | Approach | unknown | |
| Astatula, FL | N580JA | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | unknown | |
| San Diego, CA | N8150J | Substantial | None | Enroute | unknown | |
| Inverness Highlands South, FL | N686JA | Substantial | None | Taxi | Personnel issues | |
| Block Island, RI | N961DA | Substantial | Fatal | Landing | unknown | |
| San Juan, PR | N4187U | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Knoxville, TN | N4533X | Substantial | None | Landing | Environmental issues | |
| Tiffin, OH | N335BG | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Environmental issues | |
| Hollywood, FL | N3055B | Substantial | Minor | Initial climb | unknown | |
| Addison, TX | N504AF | Substantial | None | Initial climb | unknown | |
| Englishtown, NJ | N8454H | Minor | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Pahokee, FL | N90874 | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues | |
| Palm Beach Gardens, FL | N6294C | Substantial | None | Landing | Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Tampa Bay, FL | N8575F | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Somerville, NJ | N512AF | Substantial | Minor | Approach | unknown | |
| Yuma, AZ | N3044U | Substantial | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Arcola, TX | N1941V | Substantial | Minor | Emergency descent | Aircraft, Personnel issues |
Page 1 of 8 (showing accidents 1–25 of 178).
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