Piper PA-28-236

Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper

Model: PA-28-236

About the Piper PA-28-236

Across the type's FAA-registration exposure the PA-28-236 shows an accident rate of about 2.5 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years, drawn from 23 recorded accidents, of which 5 were fatal. Measured against its cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, the PA-28-236 sits at about one in ten on the safety percentile, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate, a lower accident rate than most comparable types.

More than 400 of the type remain on the U.S. civil registry, the 24th-largest active fleet in Piper's lineup and about 1% of the maker's active registered aircraft. Of every registry record the PA-28-236 has ever held, about a quarter have since been deregistered.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Piper
Manufacturer Serial Number 7102815
Model PA-28-236
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
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).


16 exact, 7 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
23
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


5 fatal accidents.

21.7% of recorded accidents were fatal.

480
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


9,100

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
0.3%
Exposure
0.5%
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 – 2024 Total 23
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 23 observed): 2008 4, 2009 1, 2010 5, 2011 1, 2012 1, 2014 1, 2016 2, 2017 2, 2018 3, 2019 1, 2021 1, 2024 1. 2 4 6 8 0 4 '08 1 '09 5 '10 1 '11 1 '12 1 '14 2 '16 2 '17 3 '18 1 '19 1 '21 1 '24
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.

7 categories Total 23
Landing 9
Enroute 8
Approach 2
Taxi 1
Takeoff 1
Maneuvering 1
Other 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 74
Personnel issues 29
Aircraft 24
Environmental issues 18
Not determined 2
Organizational issues 1
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 23
None 11
Fatal 5
Minor 5
Serious 2

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (23)· NUSN (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 23 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Muncie, IN N8438B Destroyed Serious Approach unknown
Orleans, MA N2186U Destroyed Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Modesto, CA N8353T Destroyed None Enroute Not determined
Guthrie Center, IA N91770 Substantial Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft
Merced, CA N2956B Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Tishomingo, OK N4345K Substantial Serious Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
St. Joseph, IL N2204B Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Port Orford, OR N81839 Substantial Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft
Lexington, MO N4376V Substantial None Takeoff Environmental issues
Punta Gorda, FL N8161X Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft, Organizational issues
Salmon, ID N2190H Substantial Minor Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues
Chester, CT N777AF Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Front Royal, VA N4341M Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Dorrington, CA N228KK Substantial Minor Enroute Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Fullerton, CA N8337A Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Moreno Valley, CA N8118A Substantial None Enroute Environmental issues, Aircraft
Austin, TX N2889D Destroyed Fatal unknown Personnel issues, Not determined
Alton Bay, NH N236PR Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Pomona, CA N129AB Destroyed Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft
Ely, MN N845D Substantial None Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Plymouth, NC N2139N Substantial Minor Approach Personnel issues
Osage Beach, MO N8106M Substantial None Taxi Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Alturas, CA N2092E Substantial Minor Landing Environmental issues, Aircraft
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.