Piper/gothard PA-18A

Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper/gothard

Model: PA-18A

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Piper/gothard
Manufacturer Serial Number 7101805
Model PA-18A
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.

94%
Identity Confirmed

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


8 exact, 9 recovered, 1 provisional

Methodology
18
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


1 fatal accidents.

5.6% of recorded accidents were fatal.

151
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


2,944

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
0.5%
Exposure
0.3%
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 →

2009 – 2022 Total 18
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 18 observed): 2009 1, 2010 1, 2011 3, 2013 3, 2014 2, 2015 1, 2016 1, 2017 1, 2019 2, 2020 1, 2021 1, 2022 1. 1 2 3 4 0 1 '09 1 '10 3 '11 3 '13 2 '14 1 '15 1 '16 1 '17 2 '19 1 '20 1 '21 1 '22
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.

5 categories Total 18
Landing 6
Takeoff 5
Taxi 3
Maneuvering 2
Approach 2
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 61
Personnel issues 24
Aircraft 20
Environmental issues 15
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 18
None 9
Minor 6
Serious 2
Fatal 1

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (18)

Recorded Accidents

All 18 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
CHARLESTOWN, NH N1927A Substantial Serious Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft, Not determined
Anchorage, AK N1968P Substantial Minor Approach Not determined
Chickaloon, AK N2791P Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
New Market, VA N1984A Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
McGrath, AK N8170C Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues
COEUR D'ALENE, ID N245KW Substantial Minor Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues
Palmer, AK N2791P Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Girdwood, AK N2791P Substantial None Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Arlington, WA N7474D Substantial None Taxi Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Wheatland, WY N1952P Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Nikolai, AK N4581A Destroyed Fatal Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Talkeetna, AK N3599A Substantial Minor Takeoff Aircraft
Nikiski, AK N2496P Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Sherman, TX N150CW Substantial Minor Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
McCarthy, AK N1858A Substantial None Taxi Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Coldfoot, AK N9279D Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Billings, MT N2660A Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Wood Lake, NE N3352B Substantial Serious Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues
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.