Piper Cherokee Safety Record — PA-28 Trainer Family | AeroGurus

Editorial safety summary — see Piper Cherokee listings and consult a qualified A&P/inspector for individual aircraft decisions.

The Piper Cherokee PA-28 family (Cherokee 140 / Warrior / Archer / Dakota) is the universal Piper trainer/touring single and the second-most-prevalent fixed-gear four-seat trainer worldwide after the Cessna 172. The Cherokee has a generally good safety record consistent with training-fleet operations: docile handling, benign stall behaviour and a robust low-wing aluminium airframe. Two related fleet-wide structural ADs apply: Airworthiness Directive 2020-26-16 (for PA-28-151 Warrior, PA-28-161 Warrior II/III, PA-28-181 Archer, PA-28-235, PA-28R Arrow series, PA-32-260/300/R-300/RT-300) mandates calculated-factored-service-hour wing-spar lower-cap bolt-hole eddy-current inspection, following the 2018 Embry-Riddle Arrow wing-separation accident; AD 2020-24-05 covers earlier fixed-gear PA-28-140/-150/-160/-180/-235 and PA-32-260/-300 with a similar inspection requirement on the older airframes. High-time training aircraft are most affected and compliance is non-negotiable. With AD compliance and proper pilot training, the Cherokee's safety profile matches the 172 — fatal- accident rates at or below GA average, with pilot decision-making (VFR-into-IMC, fuel exhaustion, loss-of-control in manoeuvring flight) dominating the modern accident record.

Common safety topics

  • Wing spar AD (2020-26-16) — fatigue inspection mandatory for affected aircraft (typically
  • Stall and spin behaviour — benign; Cherokee 140 was historically used for spin training.
  • Engine reliability — Lycoming O-320 / O-360 — among the most reliable piston aviation
  • VFR-into-IMC — leading killer historically; modern avionics and ADS-B improve situational

Pre-buy safety checklist

  • Wing spar AD 2020-26-16 inspection status and findings.
  • Engine logs — Lycoming overhaul history, compression, oil analysis.
  • Airframe inspection — corrosion points, control surfaces, gear.
  • ADs and SBs compliance.
  • Avionics revision and ADS-B Out compliance.

Safety FAQ

What is the wing spar AD?
Two related ADs. AD 2020-26-16 covers the modern training fleet
Is the Cherokee safe?
With AD compliance and proper training, accident rates are class-average.
Lycoming O-320/O-360 reliability?
Excellent — proven aviation engines with thousands of TBO
Is the Cherokee good for primary training?
Yes — universal Piper trainer; docile handling and
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