Piper PA-32-300
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-32-300
About the Piper PA-32-300
The Piper PA-32-300 holds the 11th-largest active fleet in Piper's lineup, and more than 900 of these airframes remain on the U.S. civil registry today. The model accounts for about 2% of Piper's active registered aircraft. Across all U.S. registry records ever held for the PA-32-300, about half have been deregistered.
On the safety record, the PA-32-300 carries a recorded accident rate of about 4.1 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years over the type's own FAA-registration exposure. Measured against its peer cohort of similar type, engine class, and seat range, the PA-32-300 sits at about the midpoint, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate. The model therefore runs a higher accident rate than roughly half of comparable types and a lower rate than the rest. Of 83 recorded accidents for the PA-32-300, 20 were fatal.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7103212 |
| Model | PA-32-300 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Cruise Speed | 126 MPH / 109 knots |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Reciprocating |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 6 seats |
Photo: — —
public-domain
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).
42 exact, 41 recovered, 0 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
20 fatal accidents.
24.1% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
20,214
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 (83)· 135 (10)· NUSN (3)· NUSC (2)· UNK (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 83 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montauk, NY | N2242Z | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | unknown | |
| Redding, CA | N32371 | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Round Mountain, NV | N4151R | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | unknown | |
| Pomona, CA | N617ET | Substantial | Serious | Approach | unknown | |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | N154DC | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Pierz, MN | N2032M | Substantial | None | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Caro, MI | N31407 | Substantial | None | Approach | unknown | |
| Fallbrook, CA | N56631 | Substantial | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Apopka, FL | N908DK | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Willcox, AZ | N4011R | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Jackson, OH | N8963N | Destroyed | Fatal | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Gordonville, PA | N722RM | Substantial | None | Emergency descent | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Ozark, MO | N16253 | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft | |
| Marion, OH | N44601 | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Not determined | |
| Moberly, MO | N4219T | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Cincinnati, OH | N6868D | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft | |
| Needles, CA | N2957N | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Haines City, FL | N898CP | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Brentwood, TN | N600JG | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Paola, KS | N4171W | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Aircraft | |
| Afton, VA | N2104J | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft | |
| Gardiner, NY | N33125 | Substantial | None | Approach | Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Corona, CA | N841AD | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Mount Pleasant, TX | N1403X | Destroyed | Fatal | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Snohomish, WA | N561PK | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues |
Page 1 of 4 (showing accidents 1–25 of 83).
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