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  • PIPER J5A

Comparison

AttributePIPER J5A
What it is
Seats3
Landing geartaildragger
Engines1
EngineContinental A-75-8
Horsepower75 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1940
Production end1942
Endorsements requiredtailwheel
Performance
Cruise speed70 KTAS
Range300 nm
Service ceiling12,000 ft
Climb rate500 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)35 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft—
Landing over 50 ft—
Load and fuel
Seats3
Useful load590 lb
Full-fuel payload440 lb
Max takeoff weight1,450 lb
Empty weight860 lb
Usable fuel25 gal
Fuel burn at cruise4.2 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$37,000
Price, high$65,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO1,800 h
Overhaul cost, low$20,000
Overhaul cost, high$30,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time771
Active fleet268
Median year built1941.0
NTSB events, last 10 years7
Fatal events, last 10 years1
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years126.12
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active218.66
Ownership transfers, last 24 months33
Transfers per 100 active312.31
Airworthiness directives1
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidenceok
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 3-4 seats
Accident record47.7 of 10 · scored on 21 years of events (fewer than 10 in the last 10)
Severity57.2 of 10 · scored on 21 years of events (fewer than 10 in the last 10)
Access65.6 of 10
Support76 of 10
Liquidity80.6 of 10
Overall (sum of the categories shown)927.1 out of 50
  1. Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 268 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 268 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 268 active.
  4. Accident record: class median 32.28 · 202 models in class.
  5. Severity: class median 12.5.
  6. Access: class median 775.
  7. Support: class median 147.5.
  8. Liquidity: class median 19.9.
  9. Each of the five categories places the model within its peer class, from 0 (the worst of the class) to 10 (the best): a position among comparable models, not a grade. The overall score is the sum of the categories shown that are scored, out of 10 for each (50 when all five are); it is given only when at least 4 of the five are scored, and it can be set against another model's only when both are in the same peer class and scored on the same categories.
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