Piper PA-32R-300
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-32R-300
About the Piper PA-32R-300
The PA-32R-300 holds Piper's 21st-largest active fleet. More than 500 of the type remain on the U.S. civil registry, which works out to about 1% of Piper's active registered fleet.
About half of all U.S. registry records ever held for the PA-32R-300 have since been deregistered.
Over its own FAA-registration exposure, the PA-32R-300 records about 5.9 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. Measured against its peer cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, that figure sits at about the three-quarters mark, meaning a higher accident rate than roughly three-quarters of comparable types. Of the 61 accidents recorded for the PA-32R-300, 20 were fatal.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7103213 |
| Model | PA-32R-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 | 7 seats |
Photo: FlugKerl2 —
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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).
44 exact, 17 recovered, 0 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
20 fatal accidents.
32.8% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
10,403
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 →
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 (61)· 135 (5)· NUSN (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 61 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merritt Island, FL | N544DG | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Fort Mohave, AZ | N6885F | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Grants, NM | N4477F | Destroyed | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Houston, TX | N32KK | Destroyed | Fatal | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Harbor Springs, MI | N43829 | Substantial | Fatal | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Atlanta, GA | N5802V | Destroyed | Fatal | Emergency descent | Aircraft | |
| Gatlinburg, TN | N2269M | Substantial | None | Enroute | Environmental issues | |
| West Jordan, UT | N4646F | Destroyed | Serious | Initial climb | Not determined, Environmental issues | |
| Highmore, SD | N8700E | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Hector, AR | N5605V | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft | |
| Guntersville, AL | N8362C | Substantial | Minor | Prior to flight | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Macon, GA | N4489F | Destroyed | Fatal | Emergency descent | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Sevierville, TN | N4478F | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Organizational issues | |
| New Site, MS | N4386F | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Treasure Cay | N8415C | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | unknown | |
| Swainsboro, GA | N47863 | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Peru, WV | N115CL | Substantial | Fatal | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Fredricktown, MO | N4085F | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Vineyard Haven, MA | N2027M | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Richmond, IN | N38205 | Substantial | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Naperville, IL | N3402Q | Substantial | Serious | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| St. Petersburg, FL | N38448 | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Eagar, AZ | N7699F | Substantial | Fatal | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Jamestown, ND | N5868V | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Not determined | |
| Williston, FL | N823AG | Substantial | Fatal | Approach | Personnel issues |
Page 2 of 3 (showing accidents 26–50 of 61).
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