Piper PA-28-181
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-28-181
About the Piper PA-28-181
The Piper PA-28-181 Archer is a four-seat, single-engine light aircraft built by Piper Aircraft for flight training and personal use. The Archer holds the fourth-largest active fleet among Piper's registered models, with more than 2,500 still on the U.S. civil registry.
About two-thirds of every Archer ever entered on the U.S. registry remains registered today.
Over its FAA-registration exposure, the Archer records about 3.5 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years, a rate higher than about half of comparable types in the same engine and seat class. The type's 175 recorded accidents include 22 that were fatal.
A single airworthiness directive stands against the Archer, issued June 6, 2024, and it is the only one ever filed against the PA-28-181.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7102807 |
| Model | PA-28-181 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Cruise Speed | 105 MPH / 91 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).
113 exact, 61 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
22 fatal accidents.
12.6% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
49,769 (± 1,640)
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 (175)· NUSN (6)· 135 (2)· 129 (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 175 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Manual, AZ | N4144P | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Manassas, VA | N8129M | Substantial | None | Standing | Aircraft | |
| Mesquite, TX | N787TF | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| San Diego, CA | N41757 | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Eaton Rapids, MI | N3553M | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Washington, IN | N1961J | Substantial | None | Landing | Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Buxton, ND | N820ND | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues | |
| Wheeler Heights, GA | N263MG | Substantial | None | Approach | Environmental issues | |
| Chandler, AZ | N2868H | Minor | Fatal | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Gypsum, CO | N46MD | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Jeffersonville, IN | N728A | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Faribault, MN | N7114C | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Schaumburg, IL | N21175 | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Fort Pierce, FL | N885AC | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| St. Petersburg, FL | N82746 | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft | |
| McMinnville, TN | N4166Z | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Upland, CA | N79MS | Substantial | None | Taxi | Aircraft | |
| Greenwood, SC | N6958J | Substantial | None | Taxi | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Beverly, MA | N656ST | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Chandler, AZ | N924PA | Substantial | None | Taxi | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Dayton, OH | N8078X | Substantial | None | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Marana, AZ | N4403Z | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | N8384E | Substantial | None | Taxi | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Gaithersburg, MD | N38657 | Substantial | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Wickenburg, AZ | N425PA | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues |
Page 3 of 7 (showing accidents 51–75 of 175).
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