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  • PIPER PA-16

Comparison

AttributePIPER PA-16
What it is
Seats4
Landing geartaildragger
Engines1
EngineLycoming O-235-C1
Horsepower108 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1949
Production end1949
Endorsements requiredtailwheel
Performance
Cruise speed96 KTAS
Range480 nm
Service ceiling12,000 ft
Climb rate600 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)42 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft—
Landing over 50 ft—
Load and fuel
Seats4
Useful load800 lb
Full-fuel payload584 lb
Max takeoff weight1,650 lb
Empty weight850 lb
Usable fuel36 gal
Fuel burn at cruise6 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$38,000
Price, high$70,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO2,400 h
Overhaul cost, low$24,000
Overhaul cost, high$34,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time663
Active fleet275
Median year built1949.0
NTSB events, last 10 years7
Fatal events, last 10 years0
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years125.45
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active221.82
Ownership transfers, last 24 months56
Transfers per 100 active320.36
Airworthiness directives2
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidenceok
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 3-4 seats
Accident record44.6 of 10 · scored on 21 years of events (fewer than 10 in the last 10)
Severity58.9 of 10 · scored on 21 years of events (fewer than 10 in the last 10)
Access61.7 of 10
Support76.2 of 10
Liquidity85.7 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 275 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 275 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 275 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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