How many accidents has the Piper PA-32R had?

The NTSB has recorded 547 events involving the Piper PA-32R: 185 fatal, 52 serious, 64 minor injuries, and 245 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Piper PA-32R a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Piper PA-32R has 547 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Piper PA-32R Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 547 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

547

All Events

245

Incidents

Minor

Serious

185

Fatal (416 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jul 03, 1990	ISLAND PARK, ID	N38575	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHILE ATTEMPTING A SOFT-FIELD TAKEOFF. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Apr 04, 1990	JACKSON, MS	N2078B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSS-WIND.
Feb 03, 1990	PROVO, UT	N21492	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER INSTALLATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND FATIGUE FAILURE AND LEAKAGE OF THE LEFT INTERMEDIATE EXHAUST PIPE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT F… IMPROPER INSTALLATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND FATIGUE FAILURE AND LEAKAGE OF THE LEFT INTERMEDIATE EXHAUST PIPE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE SERVICE BULLETIN PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND INSUFFICIENT STANDARDS PROVIDED BY THE (FAA) AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE.
Jan 14, 1990	LIBERTY, TX	N8128B	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TAPPET FACES. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE.
Oct 15, 1989	ALBUQUERQUE, NM	N3166Q	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, HIS FAILURE TO USE… IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, HIS FAILURE TO USE THE RECOMMENDED FLAP EXTENSION, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE THE AUTOMATIC GEAR EXTENSION SPEED OR USE THE OVERRIDE FEATURE, WHICH ALLOWED THE GEAR TO EXTEND (PRECLUDING THE ABILITY TO CLIMB), AND THE POWER LINE.
Oct 12, 1989	ADDISON, TX	N30263	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE TAXI DURING DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS WITHOUT TAXIWAY LIGHTS, AN OPERABLE LANDING LIGHT OR, ASSISTANCE FROM AIRPORT P… THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE TAXI DURING DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS WITHOUT TAXIWAY LIGHTS, AN OPERABLE LANDING LIGHT OR, ASSISTANCE FROM AIRPORT PERSONNEL.
Sep 17, 1989	MAMMOTH LAKES, CA	N3929F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITION AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS THAT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITION AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS THAT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GUSTY & CROSS-WINDS AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Sep 02, 1989	PARADISE VALLEY, NV	N83TL	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, SOFT RUNWAY, AND FENCE WERE R… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, SOFT RUNWAY, AND FENCE WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Jul 27, 1989	NAPPANEE, IN	N3923F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT CALCULATION OF WEIGHT AND BALANCE AND THE AIRCRAFT'S INADEQUATE CLIMB CAPABILITY DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION.
Jul 22, 1989	BLACKSBURG, VA	N69WP	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ADVERSE WIND CONDI… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND.
Jul 12, 1989	COLUMBUS, OH	N2153K	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR IDLER-GEAR SHAFT RETAINING SET-SCREW, WHICH LED TO AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF EN… THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR IDLER-GEAR SHAFT RETAINING SET-SCREW, WHICH LED TO AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; AND THE REDUCTION OF THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO SEE OUTSIDE THE AIRPLANE DUE TO OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD.
Jun 30, 1989	TELLURIDE, CO	N82908	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING AN ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TURBULENCE.
May 30, 1989	STRATFORD, TX	N3279Q	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE WIND … IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
May 24, 1989	PHOENIX, AZ	N39520	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BEHIND THE B-737 WHICH RESULTED IN THE INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE.
Feb 18, 1989	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	N4303X	Incident	substantial	FAULTY INSTALLATION OF AVIONICS EQUIPMENT WHICH CAUSED WIRING IN THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM TO BE IMPROPERLY REINSTALLED.
Jan 18, 1989	SANTA ANA, CA	N6913D	Incident	substantial	POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY SELECTING THE WRONG RUNWAY DESPITE NOTAM AND ATIS INFORMATION INDICATING THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED.
Aug 08, 1988	EDNA, TX	N8355L	Incident	substantial	A DELAY IN INITIATION OF THE GO-AROUND DURING THE PILOT'S SECOND ATTEMPT TO LAND IN THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RU… A DELAY IN INITIATION OF THE GO-AROUND DURING THE PILOT'S SECOND ATTEMPT TO LAND IN THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RUNWAY CLOSURE DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, WHICH RESULTED IN NO RUNWAY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND THE FACT THAT THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE NOTAM.
Jul 20, 1988	CHICAGO, IL	N8069S	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jun 30, 1988	ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO	N75033	Incident	destroyed	Investigation pending
Jun 30, 1988	OLATHE, KS	N8328A	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jun 27, 1988	CAMBRIDGE, MD	N21312	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jun 16, 1988	LAKE WALES, FL	N4379A	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Feb 10, 1988	OKLAHOMA CITY, OK	N2186K	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 30, 1987	WINDHAM, CT	N38334	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 12, 1987	MEXIA, TX	N8159S	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Piper PA-32R Safety Record

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