How many Piper PA-20s are registered in the US?

273, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Piper PA-20 built?

From about 1950 to 1956. Half of those registered today were built by 1950.

What engine does the Piper PA-20 have?

Most have the Lycoming O-290 (81% of those registered); others have the Lycoming O-320.

How many accidents has the Piper PA-20 had?

34 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 PA-20 have?

15 current ADs name the PA-20 airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 29 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Piper PA-20

273 registered in the US, built from about 1950 to 1956, 4 seats, most with the Lycoming O-290. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 273
Built: 1950 to 1956
Half built by: 1950
Seats: 4
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Lycoming O-290

Engines installed

Lycoming O-290221 aircraft (81%) · 5 ADs, 1 with a repeat action
Lycoming O-32032 aircraft (12%) · 24 ADs, 3 with a repeat action

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

Airworthiness Directives

15 current ADs name the PA-20 airframe, 0 with a repeat action; 2 more were superseded. Its engines carry 29 more. 13 equipment ADs name the model.

No current airframe AD mentions a repeat action.

Every AD for the Piper PA-20

Accident record

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

What happened

Loss of control on ground17
Loss of control in flight4
Landing gear collapse2
Aerodynamic stall/spin2
Powerplant sys/comp failure1
Ground collision1

Phase of flight

Landing18
Takeoff5
Initial climb3
Approach2
Taxi2

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-08-02	Reno, NV	Landing: Landing gear collapse	None	WPR26LA288
2026-02-13	Three forks, MT	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	WPR26LA105
2025-08-23	Anchorage, AK	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	ANC25LA093
2025-07-18	Oshkosh, WI	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	CEN25LA259
2022-06-20	Palmer, AK	Takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp failure	None	ANC22LA049
2022-03-25	Chitina, AK	Approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin	None	ANC22LA027

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

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.
13 equipment ADs name the PA-20 (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-20 family

Piper PA-20-135 · 42

Questions

How many Piper PA-20s are registered in the US?: 273, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Piper PA-20 built?: From about 1950 to 1956. Half of those registered today were built by 1950.
What engine does the Piper PA-20 have?: Most have the Lycoming O-290 (81% of those registered); others have the Lycoming O-320.
How many accidents has the Piper PA-20 had?: 34 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 PA-20 have?: 15 current ADs name the PA-20 airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 29 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.