Piper/ellis Wendell Kirk PA-18-150

Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper/ellis Wendell Kirk

Model: PA-18-150

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Piper/ellis Wendell Kirk
Manufacturer Serial Number 7101846
Model PA-18-150
Category Amphibian
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
Share your captured photos of the Piper/ellis Wendell Kirk PA-18-150, receive attribution and a link. Contact us.

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.

97%
Identity Confirmed

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


176 exact, 109 recovered, 9 provisional

Methodology
294
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


18 fatal accidents.

6.1% of recorded accidents were fatal.

2,119
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


38,881

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
3.9%
Exposure
2.0%
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 294
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 294 observed): 2008 15, 2009 16, 2010 19, 2011 21, 2012 28, 2013 12, 2014 20, 2015 19, 2016 13, 2017 5, 2018 21, 2019 20, 2020 13, 2021 14, 2022 14, 2023 12, 2024 14, 2025 16, 2026 2. 9 18 27 36 0 15 '08 16 '09 19 '10 21 '11 28 '12 12 '13 20 '14 19 '15 13 '16 5 '17 21 '18 20 '19 13 '20 14 '21 14 '22 13 '23 16 '24 18 '25 6 '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.

12 categories Total 294
Landing 145
Takeoff 51
Maneuvering 30
Initial climb 18
Approach 18
Enroute 15
Taxi 9
Unknown 4
Prior to flight 1
Standing 1
Uncontrolled descent 1
Other 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 818
Personnel issues 328
Aircraft 258
Environmental issues 224
Not determined 8
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 294
None 215
Minor 47
Fatal 18
Serious 14

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (293)· PUBU (16)· 135 (8)· 137 (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 294 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Tampa, FL N1982P Substantial Minor Prior to flight Personnel issues, Aircraft
Jackson, WY N3920Z Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Fairbanks, AK N3578Z Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Tallahassee, FL N2424A Substantial Fatal Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Willow, AK N4131Z Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Environmental issues
Colorado Springs, CO N18338 Substantial None Takeoff Environmental issues, Aircraft
Napavine, WA N9268D Substantial Serious Maneuvering Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Palmer, AK N285HC Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Camarillo, CA N7482D Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Aircraft
Palmer, AK N3573Z Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Wall, SD N5951Z Substantial Serious Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Surfside Beach, SC N4287Z Substantial Minor Maneuvering Environmental issues, Aircraft
N Myrtle Beach, SC N6851Z Substantial Minor Maneuvering Aircraft
Iliamna, AK N3236P Substantial None Approach Aircraft, Not determined
Fall RiverMills, CA N273CC Substantial None Initial climb Environmental issues, Aircraft
Fairbanks, AK N57787 Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Aircraft
Concrete, WA N6845Z Substantial Minor Maneuvering Aircraft, Environmental issues, Not determined
Nikolai, AK N985W Substantial None Initial climb Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft
Sheffield, TX N743L Substantial Serious Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues

Page 12 of 12 (showing accidents 276–294 of 294).

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.