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
Prudhoe Bay, AK N3971Z Substantial None Landing Personnel issues
Nenana, AK N4000Z Substantial None Landing Personnel issues
Cordova, AK N8929L Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Woodbine, NJ N4615Y Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Bethel, ME N74843 Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Mayaguez, PR N929SC Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Lake Wales, FL N9563P Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Willcox, AZ N9683P Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Twin Falls, ID N83417 Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues
Wasilla, AK N40579 Substantial None Prior to flight Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Delta Junction, AK N7190D Substantial None Takeoff Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Talkeetna, AK N4483Z Substantial None Approach Personnel issues
Paxson, AK N44RT Substantial None Enroute Aircraft, Environmental issues
McCarthy, AK N3897Z Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Eagle Bay, NY N555AX Substantial Minor Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
Challis, ID N4249Z Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Cashmere, WA N6845Z Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Palmer, AK N8899Y Substantial None Enroute Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Worland, WY N83454 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Palmer, AK N7780Y Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Okaton, SD N3471Z Substantial None Prior to flight Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Needles, CA N2224 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Canton, GA N9764P Substantial None Enroute Environmental issues, Aircraft
Akiachak, AK N8466Y Substantial Minor Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft
Kenai, AK N444LZ Destroyed Fatal unknown Not determined

Page 8 of 12 (showing accidents 176–200 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.