Piper PA-28-180
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-28-180
About the Piper PA-28-180
The PA-28-180 is the second-largest active fleet in Piper's lineup, and it accounts for about 8% of Piper's active registered aircraft. The active registered fleet runs to more than 3,500 aircraft.
About two-thirds of all PA-28-180 registry records ever held remain on the U.S. civil registry, while more than 1,500 airframes have been deregistered.
On accident exposure the PA-28-180 sits at about a quarter on the safety percentile within its cohort of same type, engine class, and seat range, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate, so it records a lower accident rate than most comparable types. Its accident rate works out to about 2.83 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years over the type's FAA-registration exposure, and about 17% of its recorded accidents were fatal.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7102808 |
| Model | PA-28-180 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Cruise Speed | 107 MPH / 93 knots |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Reciprocating |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats |
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).
141 exact, 56 recovered, 0 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
34 fatal accidents.
17.3% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
69,624
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 (197)· NUSN (2)· PUBU (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 197 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottrellville Township, MI | N2360R | Substantial | Serious | Approach | Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Huntsville, TX | N9754J | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Charlotte, NC | N7855W | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Lake, MS | N4890L | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Aberdeen, MS | N8397W | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Summersville, MO | N7369W | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Casa Grande, AZ | N5668W | Substantial | Serious | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Barnesville, GA | N111TA | Substantial | Minor | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Cartersville, GA | N180QT | Destroyed | Fatal | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Van Nuys, CA | N400JW | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Pagosa Springs, CO | N8003W | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Thomaston, GA | N8314W | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Whittier, AK | N7061W | Substantial | Fatal | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Addison, TX | N642RJ | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Pine Spring, TX | N9494J | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Montague, CA | N6611J | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Not determined, Aircraft | |
| Metter, GA | N8475W | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Reeds Spring, MO | N6433J | Destroyed | Fatal | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Brewton, AL | N747KM | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Carroll, OH | N10GJ | Substantial | None | Approach | Environmental issues | |
| Tucson, AZ | N15664 | Minor | None | Approach | Personnel issues | |
| Whaleyville, VA | N2814T | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Gainsville, GA | N6653J | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft | |
| San Juan, PR | N9427J | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Not determined, Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Estherville, IA | N33764 | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues |
Page 4 of 8 (showing accidents 76–100 of 197).
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