Piper PA-30
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-30
About the Piper PA-30
The Piper PA-30 sits in about the 90% band for accident rate within its peer cohort of similar type, engine class, and seat range, a higher accident rate than most comparable types. Across the type's FAA-registration exposure, the PA-30 records about 5 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. Of 92 recorded PA-30 accidents, 22 were fatal.
More than 800 PA-30 airframes remain on the U.S. civil registry, the 14th-largest active fleet in Piper's lineup. The PA-30 accounts for about 2% of Piper's active registered fleet. About half of all PA-30 registry records ever held have since been deregistered.
The PA-30 carries one active FAA airworthiness directive, and one AD has been issued against the type in total. The most recent PA-30 airworthiness directive was issued on August 28, 2017.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7103002 |
| Model | PA-30 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing multi engine |
| Cruise Speed | 139 MPH / 121 knots |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Reciprocating |
| Number of Engines | 2 engines |
| Number of Seats | 6 seats |
Photo: Mike Burdett from CROMER, UK —
cc-by-sa-2.0
via Wikimedia Commons
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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.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
79 exact, 12 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
22 fatal accidents.
23.9% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
18,451
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 (92)· NUSN (6)· UNK (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 92 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waverly, TN | N30SH | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Corvallis, OR | N125RJ | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Wanatah, IN | N7588Y | Substantial | None | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Navasota, TX | N1236 | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Billings, MT | N7602Y | Substantial | Serious | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Homer, AK | N7669Y | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Alabaster, AL | N7750Y | Substantial | None | Emergency descent | Not determined, Aircraft | |
| Vaughn, NM | N8488Y | Substantial | None | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Salem, OR | N8244Y | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Eagle Creek, OR | N7155Y | Destroyed | Serious | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Opa Locka, FL | N8816Y | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Phoenix, AZ | N10KC | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft | |
| Naples, FL | N7650Y | Destroyed | Fatal | Approach | Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Organizational issues | |
| Marion, IN | N7751Y | Destroyed | Fatal | Initial climb | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Not determined | |
| Goodyear, AZ | N7072Y | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Vero Beach, FL | N8674Y | Substantial | None | Landing | Not determined | |
| Topeka, KS | N22HW | Destroyed | Fatal | Approach | Aircraft | |
| Haines, AK | N7376Y | Substantial | Fatal | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Mineral Wells, TX | N7663Y | Substantial | Serious | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Plainfield, IL | N7409Y | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Dublin, GA | N68X | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| St. Petersburg, FL | N21ND | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Clifton, TX | N7768Y | Destroyed | Minor | Approach | Not determined | |
| Red Bluff, CA | N8403Y | Substantial | Serious | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Othello, WA | N7981Y | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Not determined |
Page 2 of 4 (showing accidents 26–50 of 92).