Piper PA-25-235
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-25-235
About the Piper PA-25-235
The Piper PA-25 Pawnee is an agricultural aircraft that Piper Aircraft built from 1959 to 1981 for crop spraying and glider towing. More than 300 remain on the U.S. civil registry, enough to give the Pawnee Piper's 35th-largest active fleet.
About 85% of all PA-25 airframes ever entered on the U.S. registry have since been deregistered. Across its FAA-registration exposure the type records about 6 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years, a rate that sits higher than about three-quarters of comparable types. Of 58 recorded accidents, 12 were fatal.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7102504 |
| Model | PA-25-235 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Cruise Speed | 93 MPH / 81 knots |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Reciprocating |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 1 seat |
Share your captured photos of the Piper PA-25-235, receive attribution and a link. 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).
49 exact, 8 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
12 fatal accidents.
20.7% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
9,330 (± 974)
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 →
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 (29)· 137 (29)· NUSN (3)· 129 (1)· NUSC (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 58 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yankton, SD | N6659Z | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Warner Springs, CA | N7117Z | Substantial | Serious | Enroute | Personnel issues | |
| Rhinelander, WI | N8730L | Substantial | Minor | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Boulder, CO | N8808L | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Northglenn, CO | N4519Y | Destroyed | None | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Boonville, MO | N7064Z | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Salisbury, MO | N4812Y | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Lamar, MO | N82509 | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues | |
| Panama City, FL | N86AB | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft, Not determined | |
| Groveland, FL | N7329Z | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Jasper, MO | N7655Z | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft | |
| Westerly, RI | N7313Z | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Not determined | |
| Mott, ND | N8801L | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Jacksonville, FL | N7408Z | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Whitewood, SD | N7051Z | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Not determined | |
| Minot, ND | N7709Z | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Faith, SD | N7018Z | Substantial | Minor | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Fairfield, PA | N9809P | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Roanoke, VA | N6913Z | Destroyed | Fatal | Initial climb | Aircraft, Not determined | |
| Boulder, CO | N8718L | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Middletown, CA | N7023Z | Substantial | Fatal | Approach | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Bainbridge, GA | N7339Z | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft | |
| Royal, IA | N6701Z | Substantial | Minor | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Miller, MO | N6689Z | unknown | Serious | Standing | Organizational issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Westerly, RI | N4898Y | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Environmental issues |
Page 2 of 3 (showing accidents 26–50 of 58).
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