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  • PIPER PA-20-135

Comparison

AttributePIPER PA-20-135
What it is
Seats4
Landing geartaildragger
Engines1
EngineLycoming O-290-D2
Horsepower135 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1952
Production end1954
Endorsements requiredtailwheel
Performance
Cruise speed109 KTAS
Range470 nm
Service ceiling15,000 ft
Climb rate620 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)42 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft1,600 ft
Landing over 50 ft1,280 ft
Load and fuel
Seats4
Useful load930 lb
Full-fuel payload714 lb
Max takeoff weight1,950 lb
Empty weight1,020 lb
Usable fuel36 gal
Fuel burn at cruise7.6 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$40,000
Price, high$115,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO1,800 h
Overhaul cost, low$26,000
Overhaul cost, high$36,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time118
Active fleet42
Median year built1952.0
NTSB events, last 10 years5
Fatal events, last 10 years2
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years1119.05 · thin base (low)
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active295.24 · thin base (low)
Ownership transfers, last 24 months8
Transfers per 100 active319.05 · thin base (low)
Airworthiness directives0
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidencelow
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 3-4 seats
Accident record4—
Severity5—
Access66.8 of 10
Support71.6 of 10
Liquidity84 of 10
Overall (sum of the categories shown)9—
  1. Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 42 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 42 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 42 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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