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
Port Alsworth, AK N3802Z Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Homer, AK N3214D Substantial None Approach Not determined
Ekwok, AK N4127Z Substantial Minor Initial climb Personnel issues
Coldfoot, AK N82016 Substantial Serious Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Delta Junction, AK N4316Z Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Talkeetna, AK N4001Z Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Peyton, CO N7808Z Substantial None Taxi Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Berlin, MD N4330Z Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
Whittier, AK N3764Z Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
North Myrtle Beach, SC N2991Z Substantial Minor Maneuvering Environmental issues
North Myrtle Beach, SC N8048D Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Jenks, OK N83604 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Kenai, AK N7154Z Substantial None Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Tynoek, AK N4272Z Substantial None Initial climb Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Skwentna, AK N623JE Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Skwentna, AK N9488D Substantial None Taxi Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Anchorage, AK N3772Z Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Gakona, AK N999JV Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Palmer, AK N8976D Substantial Minor Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Burlington, NC N91250 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Eaton, NY N82398 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Sierraville, CA N8451Y Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Fort Collins, CO N2986P Substantial Minor Approach Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Grangeville, ID N82213 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues
West Fargo, ND N7949 Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues

Page 9 of 12 (showing accidents 201–225 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.