Piper PA-12
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-12
About the Piper PA-12
The Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser is a three-seat, high-wing, single-engine light aircraft, built by Piper between 1946 and 1948. Within Piper's lineup, the Super Cruiser holds the 7th-largest active registered fleet, and more than 1,000 remain on the U.S. civil registry.
Just over half of all Super Cruisers ever entered on the U.S. registry have since been deregistered.
The model records about 4.6 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years across its FAA-registration exposure. Measured against comparable types matched on aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, the Super Cruiser's rate runs higher than about two-thirds of the cohort. Of the 118 accidents on record, 13 involved a fatality.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7101202 |
| Model | PA-12 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Cruise Speed | 82 MPH / 71 knots |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Reciprocating |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 3 seats |
Photo: Ahunt —
public-domain
via Wikimedia Commons
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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.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
107 exact, 8 recovered, 2 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
13 fatal accidents.
11.1% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
25,826
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
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 →
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.
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.
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.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (117)· 135 (4)
Recorded Accidents
All 117 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Township, NJ | N3703M | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | N4421M | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Seagraves, TX | N78466 | Destroyed | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Enterprise, OR | N3960M | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft | |
| Labelle, FL | N3098M | Substantial | Serious | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Tyonek, AK | N149AK | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Nikolai, AK | N2579M | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Kenai, AK | N92793 | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Erie, CO | N2849M | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Spearfish, SD | N2554M | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Aircraft | |
| Gilliam, LA | N2569M | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Pacific City, OR | N7754H | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Not determined | |
| Soldotna, AK | N2587M | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Organizational issues | |
| Linconville, ME | N4365M | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Anchorage, AK | N3188M | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Aircraft | |
| Palmer, AK | N3824M | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Williams, CA | N3985M | Substantial | None | Taxi | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Healy, AK | N4315M | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| McCarthy, AK | N2534M | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Manassas, VA | N3447M | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Yakima, WA | N4238M | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Skwentna, AK | N3914M | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Sisters, OR | N92798 | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Mecosta, MI | N2733M | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Cedar City, UT | N2333M | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues |
Page 2 of 5 (showing accidents 26–50 of 117).