Piper PA-28-235

Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper

Model: PA-28-235

About the Piper PA-28-235

The PA-28-235 ranks 15th by active fleet size within Piper's lineup. More than 800 of them remain on the U.S. civil registry, about 2% of Piper's active registered fleet.

About 40% of all PA-28-235 registry records ever held have been deregistered.

Across its FAA-registration exposure, the PA-28-235 records about 4 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. Within its cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, the PA-28-235 records a higher accident rate than just over half of comparable types. Of the PA-28-235's 68 recorded accidents, 9 involved a fatality.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Piper
Manufacturer Serial Number 7102810
Model PA-28-235
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
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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.

100%
Identity Confirmed

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


46 exact, 22 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
68
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


9 fatal accidents.

13.2% of recorded accidents were fatal.

860
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


17,233

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
0.9%
Exposure
0.9%
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 →

2008 – 2025 Total 68
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 68 observed): 2008 7, 2009 4, 2010 5, 2011 7, 2012 1, 2013 3, 2014 4, 2015 3, 2016 2, 2017 3, 2018 1, 2019 5, 2020 6, 2021 2, 2022 5, 2023 5, 2024 1, 2025 4. 3 6 9 12 0 7 '08 4 '09 5 '10 7 '11 1 '12 3 '13 4 '14 3 '15 2 '16 3 '17 1 '18 5 '19 6 '20 2 '21 5 '22 5 '23 1 '24 4 '25
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.

8 categories Total 68
Landing 23
Enroute 11
Takeoff 9
Initial climb 8
Approach 8
Maneuvering 6
Taxi 2
Standing 1
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 198
Personnel issues 86
Aircraft 67
Environmental issues 37
Not determined 8
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 68
None 38
Minor 12
Fatal 9
Serious 9

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (68)· NUSN (2)· UNK (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 68 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Jacksonville, FL N951TS Substantial None Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Falcon, CO N8641W Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Dwight, IL N838JH Substantial None Enroute Aircraft, Not determined
Little Rock, AR N7954W Substantial Serious Enroute Not determined, Environmental issues
Pocasset, OK N8856W Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Harrisonville, MO N3082T Minor Serious Taxi Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Big Bear, CA N9238W Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Taylor, AZ N9398W Substantial None Maneuvering Not determined
Lee's Summit, MO N8983W Substantial Fatal Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Winneconne, WI N3979X Substantial None Landing Not determined
Huntington, IN N8703W Substantial Minor Prior to flight Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Woodstock, GA N8803W Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Sommerville, TN N8607W Destroyed Fatal Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Georgetown, CO N8814W Destroyed Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Brooksville, FL N8683W Substantial None Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
De Beque, CO N9172W Substantial Minor Maneuvering Personnel issues, Aircraft
Albany, OR N8606W Substantial None Landing Aircraft
Bountiful, UT N8554W Substantial None Takeoff Not determined, Environmental issues
Rock Springs, WY N49DS Substantial None Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
Richmond, IN N8788W Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues
Chickasha, OK N999RR Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Radnor, OH N8746W Substantial None Standing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Wadsworth, OH N9444W Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Stanberry, MO N42860 Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Matador, TX N9478W Substantial Minor Initial climb Not determined, Aircraft

Page 2 of 3 (showing accidents 26–50 of 68).

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.