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
Sep 23, 2025	White Plains, NY	N47630	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain proper glidepath during a night visual approach, which resulted in a collision with the runway lighting system. Contri… The pilot’s failure to maintain proper glidepath during a night visual approach, which resulted in a collision with the runway lighting system. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s momentary disorientation due to glare from the runway approach lighting system.
Jul 30, 2024	North Myrtle Beach, SC	N5343C	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to use the emergency landing gear extension system, resulting in a gear-up landing. Contributing to the accident was an alternator… The pilot’s failure to use the emergency landing gear extension system, resulting in a gear-up landing. Contributing to the accident was an alternator belt failure.
Jul 04, 2024	Myerstown, PA	N184VA	Incident	substantial	The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure a B-nut on the No. 5 cylinder fuel injector line, resulting in a fuel leak and engine fire.
Jun 12, 2024	Selma, AL	N62LP	Incident	substantial	The pilot receiving instruction’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent landing gear collapse.
Jan 01, 2023	Old Bridge, NJ	N8282K	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during the landing approach.
Jul 06, 2022	Tamaulipas, MX	N3577D	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jul 04, 2022	Frankston, TX	N25RC	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s delayed aborted takeoff that resulted in a runway overrun and impact with terrain.
Jun 20, 2022	Red Bluff, CA	N4383D	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to detect the tripped landing gear motor circuit breaker, which prevented the gear from fully locking in the down position, and su… The pilot’s failure to detect the tripped landing gear motor circuit breaker, which prevented the gear from fully locking in the down position, and subsequent collapse during landing.
Jun 05, 2022	Gettysburg, SD	N901BW	Incident	substantial	An inadvertent hard landing by the pilot.
Jun 04, 2022	Spencer, VA	N8429X	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to use the landing checklist.
Sep 15, 2021	Stanley, ID	N529PE	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing with a gusting crosswind which, resulted in a hard landing and collision with terrain.
Apr 11, 2021	Troy, AL	N299HP	Incident	substantial	An unanticipated encounter with a deer shortly after touchdown, resulting in a collision and substantial damage to the airframe.
Apr 09, 2021	Stockbridge, GA	N1664H	Incident	substantial	The flying pilot’s failure to configure the flaps for a short field takeoff and delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway over… The flying pilot’s failure to configure the flaps for a short field takeoff and delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Mar 07, 2021	Brevard, NC	N94GF	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, overstress fracture of components of the left main landing gear, and subsequent … The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, overstress fracture of components of the left main landing gear, and subsequent runway excursion.
Jan 12, 2021	Sparta, MI	N35718	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glideslope during final approach, which resulted in contact with a snowbank at the approach end of the runw… The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glideslope during final approach, which resulted in contact with a snowbank at the approach end of the runway.
Sep 26, 2018	Malad, ID	N24BA	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to identify that he was not utilizing the full runway for takeoff, and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted i… The pilot’s failure to identify that he was not utilizing the full runway for takeoff, and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Oct 13, 2015	Salisbury, NC	N300KG	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadvertent switching of the fuel selector to the "off" position on final approach, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to … The pilot's inadvertent switching of the fuel selector to the "off" position on final approach, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Jan 05, 2014	Margarita, VE	YV20070	Incident	minor	<br /><br />
May 19, 2013	Chandler, AZ	N8197W	Incident	substantial	The failure of the alternator and/or battery, which prevented the operation of the landing gear extension system and resulted in the nose landing gear… The failure of the alternator and/or battery, which prevented the operation of the landing gear extension system and resulted in the nose landing gear collapsing during the landing roll.
Aug 23, 2012	Riverview, FL	N362DM	Incident	substantial	Damage to the propeller governor gasket during installation by unknown persons, which resulted in a total loss of engine oil in flight and a subsequen… Damage to the propeller governor gasket during installation by unknown persons, which resulted in a total loss of engine oil in flight and a subsequent forced landing.
Mar 14, 2012	Warrenton, VA	N1358H	Incident	—	Maintenance personnel's failure to identify stress corrosion cracking in the stabilator control cable during the most recent inspection, and the subse… Maintenance personnel's failure to identify stress corrosion cracking in the stabilator control cable during the most recent inspection, and the subsequent failure of the cable on the flight after the inspection.
Feb 18, 2012	Swainsboro, GA	N47863	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glidepath during final approach in night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision wi… The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glidepath during final approach in night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Jan 15, 2012	Angle Fire, NM	N513CW	Incident	substantial	The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions.
Aug 09, 2011	Charleston, SC	N30731	Incident	substantial	The pilot's decision to continue the approach and landing at a high airspeed, which resulted in an improper touchdown point and subsequent runway excu… The pilot's decision to continue the approach and landing at a high airspeed, which resulted in an improper touchdown point and subsequent runway excursion.
Jul 02, 2011	Louisville, KY	N8319N	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a landing gear collapse.

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.

← Piper PA-32R For Sale All Piper Models

Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Piper PA-32R Safety Record

Report an Issue