Skip to main content

Compare aircraft models

Up to three models side by side. Everything here is true of every aircraft of the type, not of any one aircraft.

Choose models

The picker searches 839 models.

  • PIPER PA-20

Comparison

AttributePIPER PA-20
What it is
Seats4
Landing geartaildragger
Engines1
EngineLycoming O-290-D
Horsepower125 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1950
Production end1954
Endorsements requiredtailwheel
Performance
Cruise speed108 KTAS
Range480 nm
Service ceiling15,000 ft
Climb rate620 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)43 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft—
Landing over 50 ft—
Load and fuel
Seats4
Useful load830 lb
Full-fuel payload614 lb
Max takeoff weight1,800 lb
Empty weight970 lb
Usable fuel36 gal
Fuel burn at cruise7 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$39,500
Price, high$116,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO1,800 h
Overhaul cost, low$26,000
Overhaul cost, high$36,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time792
Active fleet276
Median year built1950.0
NTSB events, last 10 years17
Fatal events, last 10 years1
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years161.59
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active250.72
Ownership transfers, last 24 months46
Transfers per 100 active316.67
Airworthiness directives1
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidenceok
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 3-4 seats
Accident record42.1 of 10
Severity57.2 of 10
Access68 of 10
Support76.2 of 10
Liquidity82.3 of 10
Overall (sum of the categories shown)925.8 out of 50
  1. Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 276 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 276 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 276 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.
© 2026 TailFax. All rights reserved.TailFax · public FAA and NTSB records; not an inspection