Piper PA-38-112
Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-38-112
About the Piper PA-38-112
The PA-38-112 records about 3 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years over its FAA-registration exposure, and its safety percentile sits at about a third of a peer cohort drawn from the same type, engine class, and seat range, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate. At about a third of that cohort, the PA-38-112 carries a lower accident rate than most comparable types. Eight of its 38 recorded accidents were fatal.
Within Piper's lineup, the PA-38-112 holds the 28th-largest active fleet, with more than 400 aircraft on the U.S. civil registry. That places the type at about 1% of Piper's active registered fleet.
About three-quarters of all U.S. registry records the PA-38-112 has ever held are now deregistered, with more than 1,000 airframes removed from the registry.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Piper |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 7103812 |
| Model | PA-38-112 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Cruise Speed | 183 MPH / 159 knots |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | 4 Cycle |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 2 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.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
27 exact, 11 recovered, 0 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
8 fatal accidents.
21.1% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
11,771 (± 1,552)
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 (38)· NUSN (3)
Recorded Accidents
All 38 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalhart, TX | N9715T | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Harvard, IL | N2351A | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Rockingham, NC | N498DS | Substantial | None | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Gaithersburg, MD | N2512N | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | N2420F | Substantial | None | Approach | Aircraft | |
| Franklin, AR | N9879T | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Grass Valley, CA | N6380A | Substantial | Fatal | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Reserve, LA | N567N | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Not determined | |
| Cumberland, MD | N2470D | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | N9708T | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Taylor, TX | N6400A | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| East Haven, CT | N2452C | Destroyed | Fatal | Initial climb | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Hartford, CT | N250YA | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Madison, IN | N2412D | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Jasper, GA | N4313E | Substantial | Fatal | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Organizational issues | |
| West Milford, NJ | N381PT | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Madera, CA | N2578L | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Byron, CA | N99DM | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Not determined | |
| Corona, CA | N4309E | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Fate, TX | N2552C | Substantial | None | Enroute | Not determined | |
| Mt. Vernon, MO | N2510B | Substantial | Serious | Landing | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Merry Hill, NC | N9279T | Substantial | Serious | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Davis, CA | N2466D | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Centerburg, OH | N6403A | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Silver Bow, MT | N2584N | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues |
Page 1 of 2 (showing accidents 1–25 of 38).