Piper/cardinal Airmotive PA-18

Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper/cardinal Airmotive

Model: PA-18

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Piper/cardinal Airmotive
Manufacturer Serial Number 7101801
Model PA-18
Category Land
Builder Certification Not Type Certificated
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 2 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.

95%
Identity Confirmed

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


32 exact, 29 recovered, 3 provisional

Methodology
64
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


5 fatal accidents.

7.8% of recorded accidents were fatal.

478
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


9,566

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
0.9%
Exposure
0.5%
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 – 2026 Total 64
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 64 observed): 2008 11, 2009 6, 2010 3, 2011 4, 2012 6, 2013 1, 2014 3, 2015 3, 2016 3, 2018 1, 2019 4, 2020 4, 2021 3, 2022 5, 2023 4, 2025 2, 2026 1. 4 8 12 16 0 11 '08 6 '09 3 '10 4 '11 6 '12 1 '13 3 '14 3 '15 3 '16 1 '18 4 '19 4 '20 3 '21 5 '22 4 '23 2 '25 3 '26
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.

8 categories Total 64
Landing 26
Takeoff 16
Initial climb 6
Enroute 5
Maneuvering 4
Approach 4
Taxi 2
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 180
Personnel issues 74
Aircraft 55
Environmental issues 49
Not determined 2
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 64
None 44
Minor 11
Fatal 5
Serious 4

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (64)· 135 (1)· NUSN (1)· PUBU (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 66 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Nabesna, AK N1169A Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Chickaloon, AK N9840Q Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Fairbanks, AK N5773D Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Aspen, CO N350CC Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Skwentna, AK N7509K Substantial None Approach Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues
Foraker, OK N7096D Substantial None Enroute Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Fairbanks, AK N2265A Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Talkeetna, AK N7174K Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
Tyonek, AK N82057 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Nome, AK N7055 Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues
Wasilla, AK N2581P Substantial Fatal Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Skwentna, AK N5408Y Substantial Serious Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Willow, AK N91256 Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Not determined, Environmental issues
Quinhagak, AK N897SP Destroyed Fatal Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Anchorage, AK N1912A Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues
Santa Teresa, NM N1588P Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues

Page 3 of 3 (showing accidents 51–66 of 66).

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.