How many Piper PA-18As are registered in the US?

533, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Piper PA-18A built?

From about 1952 to 1961. Half of those registered today were built by 1957.

What engine does the Piper PA-18A have?

Most have the Lycoming O-320 (83% of those registered); others have the Lycoming O-290, Lycoming O-360.

How many accidents has the Piper PA-18A had?

44 in the NTSB's database since 2009, 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 PA-18A have?

11 current ADs name the PA-18A airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 53 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Piper PA-18A

533 registered in the US, built from about 1952 to 1961, 1 seats, most with the Lycoming O-320. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 533
Built: 1952 to 1961
Half built by: 1957
Seats: 1
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Lycoming O-320

Engines installed

Lycoming O-320442 aircraft (83%) · 24 ADs, 3 with a repeat action
Lycoming O-29035 aircraft (7%) · 5 ADs, 1 with a repeat action
Lycoming O-36018 aircraft (3%) · 24 ADs, 3 with a repeat action

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

Airworthiness Directives

11 current ADs name the PA-18A airframe, 0 with a repeat action; 2 more were superseded. Its engines carry 53 more. 10 equipment ADs name the model.

No current airframe AD mentions a repeat action.

Every AD for the Piper PA-18A

Accident record

44 accidents since 2009, 1 fatal (1 person killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 1 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of control on ground9
Nose over/nose down7
Loss of control in flight5
Loss of engine power (total)3
Collision during takeoff/land2
Fuel starvation2

Phase of flight

Landing18
Takeoff11
Approach4
Maneuvering4
Taxi3

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-09-10	Palmer, AK	Landing: Nose over/nose down	None	ANC26LA101
2026-08-27	New smyrna beach, FL	Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)	None	ERA26LA316
2026-06-23	Minden, NV	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	WPR26LA244
2026-05-19	Tyonek, AK	Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land	None	ANC26LA043
2025-05-23	Susitna, AK	Landing: Abnormal runway contact	None	ANC25LA041
2024-09-04	Denali, AK	Takeoff: Windshear or thunderstorm	None	ANC24LA090

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 PA-18A with the Lycoming O-320: 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.
10 equipment ADs name the PA-18A (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 PA-18A family

Piper PA-18A-135 · 50

Questions

How many Piper PA-18As are registered in the US?: 533, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Piper PA-18A built?: From about 1952 to 1961. Half of those registered today were built by 1957.
What engine does the Piper PA-18A have?: Most have the Lycoming O-320 (83% of those registered); others have the Lycoming O-290, Lycoming O-360.
How many accidents has the Piper PA-18A had?: 44 in the NTSB's database since 2009, 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 PA-18A have?: 11 current ADs name the PA-18A airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 53 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.