Piper Aircraft · Single-engine piston plane
Piper PA-46 Malibu, Mirage, M350 (piston)
Is the Piper PA-46 Malibu, Mirage, M350 (piston) safe? It ranks #23 of 23 small planes we rate, with 25 fatal accidents counted in about 950,000 US flights since 2008.
Likely range 29 to 40
How the score is built
- Fatal accidents
- 25 in 0.95 million flights
26.3 fatal accidents per million flights. Counted: all civil flights in the United States since 2008 (private, training, charter and other), accidents and unexplained losses; not counted: accidents outside the United States or before 2008, military, test and illegal flights, sabotage, hijackings, shoot-downs and deliberate crew acts.
- Full-loss equivalents
- 24
Each counted accident adds the share of people on board who died (1 = no survivors). This is what the score is based on.
- Flights flown
- 0.95 million
Estimated flights of all kinds in the United States since 2008. Flights of all kinds in the United States (private, training, charter and other civil use) 2008 to 3 November 2026, each counted from take-off to final landing: the hours of all US piston singles in each year (active aircraft and hours from the FAA General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey), split between types by US-registered aircraft (FAA register, 789 of this type in 2024) times how much each type flies against its class (1.30, mostly from airframe hours in NTSB accident records, partly from hours per aircraft seen by ADS-B receivers in 2019-2022), at 1.29 hours per flight from ADS-B tracks: about 84 flights per registered aircraft per year in 2024. Flights and accidents outside the United States, or before 2008, are not used. Against the FAA's hours per helicopter model, this method is off by about 22% on a typical type. Uncertainty roughly ±25%.
- Technology generation
- Single-engine piston plane
Small fleets are pulled toward the record of the other types of their generation: 5.5 full-loss equivalents per million flights over 217 million flights. Weight of this family's own record: 77%.
- Likely range
- 29 to 40
The score is 90% likely to lie in this range, given how few accidents a type has and the error in the estimate of its flights.
- Last fatal accident
- 13 October 2026
Compass Pro LLC Compass Pro LLC, Reedsburg, WI, United States of America: 5 of 5 people on board died.
- Aircraft destroyed
- 17
Aircraft the NTSB coded as destroyed in an accident in the United States since 2008, fatal or not, from all causes. The NTSB codes many wrecks as only substantially damaged, so the real number is higher (context only, not in the score).
Compared with everyday risks
One flight on the Piper PA-46 Malibu, Mirage, M350 (piston) carries about the same risk of death as the activities near it below.
- An hour's walk1 in 14 million
- Driving 100 miles (160 km)1 in 5.9 million
- An ordinary day: accidents and violence1 in 1 million
- A day of skiing1 in 830,000
- A scuba dive1 in 500,000
- Cycling 100 miles (160 km)1 in 430,000
- Running a marathon1 in 290,000
- A skydive1 in 250,000
- A general anaesthetic1 in 100,000
- Riding a motorbike 100 miles (160 km)1 in 83,000
- One flight on the Piper PA-46 Malibu, Mirage, M350 (piston)This aircraft1 in 48,000
Accident history
25 fatal accidents in the United States since 2008 count toward the score, with 64 people on board killed.
| Date | Flight | Killed | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Pro LLC Compass Pro LLCPiper PA46-350P · Reedsburg, WI, United States of America | 5 killed / 5 on board | A PA-46-350P of Compass Pro LLC crashed near Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and all five on board died. The investigation has not published a cause.Cause not yet established; counted.Type: Unknown causeNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46-350P · Anderson, IN, United States of America | 4 killed / 4 on board | About a mile from the runway at Anderson, Indiana, the pilot of the Malibu Mirage called a missed approach; climbing out with poor speed control, it stalled at low height and crashed. All four on board died. NTSB: inadequate airspeed management during the missed approach.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46 · Trout Creek, NY, United States of America | 5 killed / 5 on board | Climbing in cloud and turbulence after leaving Sidney, New York, toward an area of known storms, the pilot lost control of the Malibu and it broke up in flight near Trout Creek. All five on board died. NTSB: spatial disorientation in cloud, with flight into convective weather.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| Upward Aviation LLCPiper PA46-350P · Hartsburg, MO, United States of America | 1 killed / 1 on board | Limited by an active military area while deviating around storms, the pilot reported freezing rain; the Malibu Mirage rolled to 70 degrees in a steep dive, passed its maximum speed and broke up near Hartsburg, Missouri. The pilot died. NTSB: loss of control in convective weather.Type: Windshear or stormNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46 · Seligman, AZ, United States of America | 2 killed / 2 on board | A student pilot flying a passenger in his Malibu at 17,700 ft told ATC he had been dodging rain cells that were getting bigger; it turned around, dived into heavy weather and broke up near Seligman, Arizona. Both died. NTSB: VFR flight into cloud and spatial disorientation.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA-46-310P · Danville, AR, United States of America | 4 killed / 4 on board | Climbing to 23,000 ft on an IFR flight, the Malibu slowed steadily above 18,600 ft, then descended erratically and crashed near Danville, Arkansas, with no distress call. All four on board died. NTSB: flight into moderate to heavy icing beyond its anti-ice system, then a stall.Type: IcingNTSB docket | |
| Ist Solutions IncPiper PA46R-350T · Tehachapi, CA, United States of America | 1 killed / 1 on board | The pilot, who had no instrument rating and no weather briefing, flew from Camarillo toward Mammoth Lakes; near Tehachapi the Malibu Matrix went into a tightening left spiral and hit steep terrain, then burned. He died. NTSB: loss of control in severe mountain-wave turbulence.Type: TurbulenceNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46 · Bishop, GA, United States of America | 3 killed / 3 on board | Threading a line of storms at about 6,000 ft, the pilot of the Malibu questioned ATC's heading toward a cell, flew into a rain shower updraft and severe turbulence, lost control and broke up near Bishop, Georgia. All three died. NTSB also cited outdated cockpit weather data.Type: TurbulenceNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46 · Mayport, FL, United States of America | 2 killed / 2 on board | After about 20 minutes in heavy precipitation at 23,000 ft, the Malibu Mirage slowed to near its stall speed, rolled into a descending right turn, lost part of its right wing and fell into the Atlantic off Mayport, Florida. Both died. NTSB: loss of control in large-droplet icing.Type: IcingNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46-310P · Harrisburg, OR, United States of America | 4 killed / 4 on board | On an IFR approach to Eugene, Oregon, through moderate to extreme rain, the Malibu descended below its assigned altitude and hit the ground level about 12 miles out; all four died. Flattened grass nearby showed strong wind. NTSB: a downburst caused loss of control at low height.Type: Windshear or stormNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46-310P · Chariton, IA, United States of America | 1 killed / 1 on board | The pilot, who had no instrument rating, said he was past the storms near Ankeny, Iowa, and began his descent; the Malibu went into a descending right turn in rain and broke up over Lucas County. He died. NTSB: spatial disorientation in cloud and continued VFR flight into storms.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| Grand River Emergency Department ConsultPiper PA46 · Dubuque, IA, United States of America | 1 killed / 1 on board | Flying the ILS home to Dubuque, Iowa, under a 200 ft ceiling, the Malibu broke out over the runway at about 100 ft, climbed back into cloud and crashed north of the airport during the missed approach. The pilot died. NTSB: loss of control in the missed approach.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| Real Estate School LLCPiper PA46 350P · Erie, CO, United States of America | 5 killed / 5 on board | Landing downwind at Erie, Colorado, against the flow of traffic, the Malibu Mirage passed close to a departing aircraft, then tried a go-around in a nose-high left turn; it stalled and hit the ground. All five on board died. NTSB: airspeed not maintained in a tailwind go-around.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA-46-310P · Clayton, GA, United States of America | 1 killed / 1 on board | Taking off from Heaven's Landing, a mountain fly-in community near Clayton, Georgia, the pilot flew straight into fog rolling up the valley; the Malibu hit wooded high ground about 1,500 ft beyond the runway. He died. NTSB: decision to take off in fog and low cloud.Type: Flight into terrainNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46 350P · Truckee, CA, United States of America | 1 killed / 2 on board | Flying the GPS approach into Truckee, California, in cloud, the pilot skipped the procedure turn and stayed fast and high; in the missed approach the Malibu Mirage hit terrain near Martis Peak. One of the two on board died. NTSB: missed approach flown wrongly.Type: Flight into terrainNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46-350P · Greensburg, IN, United States of America | 4 killed / 4 on board | Flying a night non-precision approach to Greensburg, Indiana, in fog under a 300 ft ceiling, the pilot went below the minimum altitude, then flew a series of climbing and descending turns and crashed about 1.5 miles south. All four on board died. NTSB: spatial disorientation.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46-350P · Rantoul, IL, United States of America | 3 killed / 3 on board | Hurrying to leave Rantoul, Illinois, ahead of a storm front, the pilot took off under the gust front's shelf cloud; strong wind appeared to push the Malibu Mirage's nose down and it hit power lines and crashed. All three died. NTSB: loss of control on takeoff in storm winds.Type: Windshear or stormNTSB docket | |
| PilotPiper PA46-350P · Monroe, MI, United States of America | 3 killed / 3 on board | Approaching Custer Airport, Monroe, Michigan, fast with gear and flaps up, the pilot made a high-speed pass a few feet above the runway; the propeller struck the runway again and again and the overweight Malibu Mirage crashed and burned. All three died. NTSB: poor judgment.Type: Hard landing or abnormal runway contactNTSB docket | |
| Teemark CorpPiper PA-46-310P · Milaca, MN, United States of America | 2 killed / 2 on board | Climbing toward 17,000 ft in cloud after leaving Aitkin, Minnesota, the pilot radioed that he had lost the autopilot and was in an unusual attitude; the Malibu crashed near Milaca. Both died. NTSB: no recovery from the unusual attitude after the autopilot disconnected.Cause not yet established; counted.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46-350P · Destin, FL, United States of America | 3 killed / 3 on board | On a night GPS approach to Destin, Florida, the pilot descended below the minimum descent altitude and the Malibu Mirage hit the water about 5,000 ft before the runway, its gear in transit. All three on board died. NTSB: controlled flight into water.Type: Flight into terrainNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46 · Roanoke, VA, United States of America | 1 killed / 2 on board | About a minute after takeoff from Roanoke, Virginia, the pilot reported that the Malibu's control wheels were locked; it flew straight ahead in a slow descent into wires and the ground. The pilot died; the passenger was badly hurt. NTSB: control malfunction, cause undetermined.Cause not yet established; counted.Type: System failureNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA46-350P · Belleville, IL, United States of America | 2 killed / 2 on board | On a night ILS approach to St. Louis Downtown in cloud, the Malibu Mirage kept drifting right of course; on the second try it got a low altitude alert, climbed and turned, then crashed near Belleville, Illinois. Both on board died. NTSB: spatial disorientation on the approach.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket | |
| Citrus Aviation IncPiper PA46-350P · Zephyrhills, FL, United States of America | 3 killed / 3 on board | Descending at night toward Lakeland, Florida, the pilot declared an emergency and reported 'engine out'; the Malibu Mirage hit woods about 4 miles short of the alternate airport and burned. All three died. NTSB: total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Cause not yet established; counted.Type: Engine failureNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA-46-350P · ST George, UT, United States of America | 1 killed / 1 on board | About 11 minutes after leaving North Las Vegas in clear weather, the Malibu Mirage began a steady 1,000 ft per minute descent on course and flew wings-level into terrain near Utah Hill. The pilot died. NTSB: terrain not cleared during the descent for undetermined reasons.Cause not yet established; counted.Type: Flight into terrainNTSB docket | |
| PrivatePiper PA-46 · Hayden, CO, United States of America | 2 killed / 2 on board | Turning inbound on an approach to Hayden, Colorado, in bad weather while sorting out a landing gear problem, the Malibu crossed the localizer, then turned away, sped up and descended into the ground near the airport. Both on board died. NTSB: spatial disorientation.Type: Loss of control in flightNTSB docket |
Every one of the 25 counted fatal events of the piston Malibu in the United States since 2008 was a private flight, and 64 people died. That count runs to 28 October 2026. Weather (cloud, fog, storms, icing or turbulence) plays a part in 17 of the 25 summaries.
Who flies a Malibu?
Piper first flew the PA-46 in 1979, and it entered service in 1984. It is a six-seat, single-engine piston plane with a pressurised cabin, built for owners who want to cross the country at high altitude above much of the weather. About 1,350 have been built and about 800 piston aircraft are on the FAA register. Most are flown by their owners. The data holds no fatal passenger or charter flight.
The turboprop Meridian and the later M500, M600 and M700 share the airframe but are not counted here, and neither are piston Malibus converted to turbine power, such as the JetPROP: we leave them out of both the flights and the accidents. The Matrix is an unpressurised piston version.
What is the US record?
All 25 counted events were private or corporate flights. Loss of control leads with 10 events, flight into terrain follows with four, thunderstorms three, icing and turbulence two each, then one engine failure, one control-system failure, a propeller strike in a low pass and one crash with no cause yet. Like all small planes, it is scored only on US data since 2008: fatal accidents from the NTSB database, and about 0.9 million flights estimated from the FAA aircraft register and the FAA General Aviation survey, split between types mostly with airframe hours in NTSB accident records and partly with ADS-B tracks from 2019 to 2022. Malibus fly long legs and so make fewer flights than the average single, and the count takes that into account. The record is short, but the Malibu's own accidents carry most of the weight in its score. No light aircraft comes close to an airliner; a flight in one carries much more risk. See the method.
Why are weather and ice so central?
Flying high puts the pilot in cloud for long periods, and a single-engine piston cannot climb out of every storm. On 20 December 2018, a Malibu Mirage spent about 20 minutes in heavy precipitation at 23,000 feet off Mayport, Florida, then lost part of its right wing; both died. On 23 April 2021, a Malibu climbing to 23,000 feet near Danville, Arkansas, flew into icing beyond its anti-ice system, stalled and crashed; four died. On 30 June 2024, a Malibu broke up in cloud and turbulence near Trout Creek, New York, with five dead; the NTSB found disorientation in cloud and flight toward known storms.
And low and slow?
Not all events are high up. At Anderson, Indiana, on 6 September 2024, a Malibu Mirage stalled in a missed approach and four died. At Erie, Colorado, on 31 August 2014, a Malibu Mirage stalled while going around from a downwind landing, with five dead. Missed approaches and go-arounds appear again. A fast, heavy single needs a pilot who keeps the speed right at low height.
Engine and control failures
On 23 October 2009, descending at night toward Lakeland, Florida, a Malibu Mirage pilot reported the engine out; the aircraft hit woods short of the alternate airport near Zephyrhills, and all three died. The NTSB could not find why the engine lost power. On 30 March 2010, about a minute after take-off from Roanoke, Virginia, a Malibu pilot reported the control wheels locked; it descended into wires and the ground, and the pilot died. Two other cases, a Matrix whose FAA record is a turbine conversion and a Canadian-registered Mirage, are left out of the count.
What should an owner or passenger ask?
- Does the pilot have an instrument rating, and when did they last fly in cloud?
- Has the pilot had training on the Malibu itself? It is a step up from a Cherokee.
- What is the plan for ice? Ask where the freezing level is and what the pilot does if the plane starts to pick up ice.
- Ask for a briefing on the oxygen masks and the pressurisation before you climb.
- Check the tail number in the FAA registry and, for a plane you plan to buy, the maintenance records.
How to tell if you are on one
Flight trackers show PA46. For a similar owner-flown plane, see the Cirrus SR22 or the PA-32. The small planes ranking shows how they compare.
Questions people ask
Is the Piper Malibu a safe plane?
Its record per flight in the United States since 2008 is the weakest of the single-engine piston planes we rate, just behind the Piper PA-32, though their likely ranges overlap. We count 25 fatal events, all private flights, in an estimated 0.9 million flights. Confidence is medium, but the fleet is small, so a few events move the score.
Is the Malibu pressurised?
The Malibu and Malibu Mirage are. The cabin is held at a lower altitude than the plane flies at, so owners can climb above much weather. The Matrix version is not pressurised.
What is the difference between a Malibu, a Mirage and a Meridian?
The Malibu and Mirage are piston-engine planes; the Mirage has a more powerful engine. The Meridian and later M500, M600 and M700 are turboprops built on the same airframe and are not counted in this record.
What are the most common causes of fatal Malibu accidents?
Loss of control is the largest group, with 10 of 25 events. Flight into terrain follows with four, and thunderstorms with three. Cloud, fog, storms, icing or turbulence appear in 17 of the 25 summaries.
What code does a Malibu show on a flight tracker?
PA46, for the piston Malibu and Malibu Mirage. The turboprop Meridian has its own code, P46T, and is not part of this record.
Sources
- 1.NTSB docket: Piper PA-46-310P, Danville, Arkansas, 23 April 2021 (opens in a new tab) · National Transportation Safety Board
- 2.NTSB docket: Piper PA46, Mayport, Florida, 20 December 2018 (opens in a new tab) · National Transportation Safety Board
- 3.NTSB docket: Piper PA46, Trout Creek, New York, 30 June 2024 (opens in a new tab) · National Transportation Safety Board
- 4.NTSB docket: Piper PA46-350P, Anderson, Indiana, 6 September 2024 (opens in a new tab) · National Transportation Safety Board
- 5.NTSB docket: Piper PA46-350P, Zephyrhills, Florida, 23 October 2009 (opens in a new tab) · National Transportation Safety Board
- 6.NTSB docket: Piper PA46 350P, Erie, Colorado, 31 August 2014 (opens in a new tab) · National Transportation Safety Board
- 7.NTSB docket: Piper PA46, Roanoke, Virginia, 30 March 2010 (opens in a new tab) · National Transportation Safety Board
- 8.SafetyScorer exposure model: FAA aircraft register, FAA General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey, OpenSky ADS-B, NTSB airframe hours (opens in a new tab)Flights of all kinds in the United States (private, training, charter and other civil use) 2008 to 3 November 2026, each counted from take-off to final landing: the hours of all US piston singles in each year (active aircraft and hours from the FAA General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey), split between types by US-registered aircraft (FAA register, 789 of this type in 2024) times how much each type flies against its class (1.30, mostly from airframe hours in NTSB accident records, partly from hours per aircraft seen by ADS-B receivers in 2019-2022), at 1.29 hours per flight from ADS-B tracks: about 84 flights per registered aircraft per year in 2024. Flights and accidents outside the United States, or before 2008, are not used. Against the FAA's hours per helicopter model, this method is off by about 22% on a typical type. Uncertainty roughly ±25%.