Piper PA-24 Comanche
5 models built 1958–1972 · 2,428 on the US register today
The Comanche, built 1958-1972: Piper's clean laminar-flow four-seat retractable, in 180 hp (PA-24 and PA-24-180), 250 hp, fuel-injected 260 hp (1965 on, later with six seats) and 400 hp (PA-24-400, 1964-66) versions. Production ended when the 1972 flood destroyed the Lock Haven line, so the fleet is fixed and shrinking.
The variants
| MODEL | YEARS | ACTIVE | TAILFAX SCORE | WHAT CHANGED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA-24 | 1958–1964 | 346 | 31.2/50 | Comanche 180 as registered without suffix |
| PA-24-180 | 1958–1964 | 196 | 19.8/50 | 180 hp carburetted |
| PA-24-250 | 1958–1964 | 1,222 | 22.6/50 | 250 hp O-540 |
| PA-24-400 | 1964–1966 | 74 | Partial 6.9/30 | 400 hp IO-720 |
| PA-24-260 | 1965–1972 | 590 | 22.3/50 | Fuel-injected IO-540; six seats in later B/C |
Family fleet, active
2,428
FAA registry
NTSB events / 1,000, 10 yrs
47.8
116 events over 2,428 active aircraft, pooled across the family
Successor
Data as of: FAA registry Sep 28 · NTSB Oct 2 · scores Sep 30