How many Piper J5As are registered in the US?

267, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Piper J5A built?

From about 1940 to 1955. Half of those registered today were built by 1941.

What engine does the Piper J5A have?

Most have the Continental A75 (48% of those registered); others have the Continental C85, Lycoming O-235, Continental C90, Lycoming O-290.

How many accidents has the Piper J5A had?

13 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 1 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Piper J5A have?

5 current ADs name the J5A airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 25 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Piper J5A

267 registered in the US, built from about 1940 to 1955, 3 seats, most with the Continental A75. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 267
Built: 1940 to 1955
Half built by: 1941
Seats: 3
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental A75

Engines installed

Continental A75129 aircraft (48%) · 1 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Continental C8554 aircraft (20%) · 4 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Lycoming O-23523 aircraft (9%) · 10 ADs, 1 with a repeat action
Continental C9020 aircraft (7%) · 5 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Lycoming O-2909 aircraft (3%) · 5 ADs, 1 with a repeat action

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

5 current ADs name the J5A airframe, 0 with a repeat action; 2 more were superseded. Its engines carry 25 more. 5 equipment ADs name the model.

No current airframe AD mentions a repeat action.

Every AD for the Piper J5A

Accident record

13 accidents since 2008, 1 fatal (1 person killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 0 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of control on ground3
Loss of control in flight2
Loss of engine power (total)2
Fuel related1
Aerodynamic stall/spin1
Landing gear collapse1

Phase of flight

Landing5
Enroute2
Maneuvering2
Standing1
Approach1

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2025-07-23	Grenada, MS	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	CEN25LA299
2023-08-19	Iola, WI	Landing: Loss of control on ground	Fatal	CEN23FA369
2017-09-27	Geneseo, NY	Standing: Loss of control on ground	Minor	GAA17CA560
2017-08-27	Springfield, VT	Approach: Loss of control in flight	None	GAA17CA519
2016-08-25	Sterling, AK	Enroute: Fuel related	None	ANC16CA058
2016-03-25	Lake harbor, FL	Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin	Minor	GAA16CA166

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Filled in for a Piper J5A with the Continental A75: the engine maker's published overhaul time. Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD, find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
5 equipment ADs name the J5A (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

The rest of the J5 family

Piper J5C · 18 Piper J5B · 5

Questions

How many Piper J5As are registered in the US?: 267, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Piper J5A built?: From about 1940 to 1955. Half of those registered today were built by 1941.
What engine does the Piper J5A have?: Most have the Continental A75 (48% of those registered); others have the Continental C85, Lycoming O-235, Continental C90, Lycoming O-290.
How many accidents has the Piper J5A had?: 13 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 1 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Piper J5A have?: 5 current ADs name the J5A airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 25 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.