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
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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.

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
Talkeetna, AK N323DH Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Dillingham, AK N8761C Substantial None Initial climb Personnel issues, Aircraft
Carlsbad, CA N8075P Substantial Minor Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
McCarthy, AK N3897Z Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
McCarthy, AK N985W Minor Fatal Standing Personnel issues
Seward, AK N83330 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Anchorage, AK N2998P Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
La Quinta, CA N162SC Substantial Minor Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Cornelia, GA N7153Z Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Boulder, CO N4785F Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Talkeetna, AK N5348T Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Merced, CA N5385Y Substantial None Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
Brookneal, VA N619GB Substantial Minor Prior to flight Personnel issues, Aircraft
Ronan, MT N5989Z Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Minocqua, WI N41594 Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Cordova, AK N82448 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Cantwell, AK N1879P Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Aniak, AK N9877D Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Aircraft
Beluga, AK N5616Y Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Skwentna, AK N83422 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Talkeetna, AK N8979D Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Phoenix, AZ N3997Z Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Palmer, AK N9783D Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Monte Vista, CO N91106 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Chandler, AZ N83447 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft

Page 7 of 12 (showing accidents 151–175 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.