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  • PIPER PA-28-181

Comparison

AttributePIPER PA-28-181
What it is
Seats4
Landing geartricycle
Engines1
EngineLycoming O-360-A4M
Horsepower180 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1976
Production endcurrent
Endorsements required—
Performance
Cruise speed124 KTAS
Range620 nm
Service ceiling13,650 ft
Climb rate740 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)45 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft1,625 ft
Landing over 50 ft1,390 ft
Load and fuel
Seats4
Useful load1,100 lb
Full-fuel payload812 lb
Max takeoff weight2,550 lb
Empty weight1,450 lb
Usable fuel48 gal
Fuel burn at cruise10.1 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$60,000
Price, high$585,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO2,000 h
Overhaul cost, low$32,000
Overhaul cost, high$46,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time4,519
Active fleet2,932
Median year built1981.0
NTSB events, last 10 years96
Fatal events, last 10 years12
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years132.74
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active213.3
Ownership transfers, last 24 months771
Transfers per 100 active326.3
Airworthiness directives18
Directives, last 5 years1
Rate confidenceok
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 3-4 seats
Accident record49.6 of 10
Severity55.3 of 10
Access68.5 of 10
Support710 of 10
Liquidity88.9 of 10
Overall (sum of the categories shown)942.3 out of 50
  1. Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 2,932 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 2,932 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 2,932 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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