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Aircraft record

N2838D1979 Piper PA-28-161

Registration validUnclaimedSource: FAA, updated Oct 20, 2026

Safety record in brief:2 NTSB accidents (substantial damage at worst, latest Apr 2011)8 ADs may apply1 service difficulty report

Registration
Valid
expires Jul 31, 2028
Based in
Big Spring, TX
owner city / state
Engine
0-320 SERIES · 180 hp
Lycoming
Owners
1
since 2018
NTSB events
2
substantial, 2011
ADs may apply
8
confirm with A&P
Service reports
1
since 1995

Registration

FAA Aircraft Registry · Oct 20, 2026
Registered owner
His Promise Aviation Service INC
Owner type
Corporation
City, state
Big Spring, TX
Certificate issued
Jul 30, 2018
Expires
Jul 31, 2028
Airworthiness
Standard · Normal, Utility
Airworthiness date
May 7, 1979

We never show street addresses, even though they appear in the public FAA file. Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Airframe & engine

FAA Registry + type data

Airframe

Manufacturer
Piper
Model
PA-28-161
Year
1979
Serial number
28-7916463
Aircraft type
Fixed wing single engine
Category
Land
Certification
Type Certificated
Seats
4
Engines
1
Max takeoff weight
Up to 12,499 lb
Mode S code
A2DC94

Engine

Make and model
Lycoming 0-320 Series
Type
Reciprocating
Power
180 hp

Total time and engine hours aren't public. They appear here once the owner adds logbooks.

Ownership history

Ownership history from FAA records
  1. 2018 – nowHis Promise Aviation Service INCBig Spring, TX · current

Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Safety record

NTSB · Oct 15, 2026 · FAA ADs · Oct 20, 2026 · SDRs · Oct 16, 2026

NTSB events (2)

Accident · substantial damage

Apr 22, 2011 · Meriden, CT

Maintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the main landing gear, which resulted in a failure of the right main landing gear’s inboard torque link lug due to a fatigue fracture. Contributing to the accident was owner's lack of compliance with a factory service bulletin addressing landing gear inspections.

Damage
Substantial
Injuries
None
Report
ERA11LA264

From NTSB records; matched by serial number.Read NTSB report (search CAROL for ERA11LA264)

Accident · substantial damage

Mar 12, 2011 · Oxford, CT

The student pilot's inadequate landing flare and the certified flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, resulting in a hard landing.

Damage
Substantial
Injuries
None
Report
ERA11CA187

From NTSB records; matched by serial number.Read NTSB report (search CAROL for ERA11CA187)

Accident history for this model

ADs published since 1998 that may apply (8)

These match the airframe or engine model. Whether each one applies, and whether it's been complied with, depends on serial numbers, equipment and logbook entries. Applicability must be confirmed by a mechanic against the aircraft's records.

ADSubjectEffectiveApplies to
2018-07-03Placard and MarkingsApr 20, 2018Airframe (PA-28-161)Serial numbers per Table 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD
2016-07-21Wing Ribs/BulkheadApr 26, 2016Airframe (PA-28-161)Certain serial numbers: PA-28-161 2842393–2842395; PA-28-181 2843769–2843775; PA-28-181 2843779–2843791; PA-28R-201 2844152; PA-28-161 2842010–2842392; PA-28-181 2843021–2843768; …
2013-02-13Stabilizer Control SystemMar 11, 2013Airframe (PA-28-161)
2010-26-04Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-28-161 AirplanesFeb 1, 2011Airframe (PA-28-161)Only with: Equipped with Thielert TAE-125-01 engine installed per STC No. SA03303AT.
2010-15-10Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-28, PA-32, PA-34, and PA-44 Series AirplanesAug 31, 2010Airframe (PA-28-161)Certain serial numbers: PA-28-140 28-20001–28-26946; PA-28-140 28-7125001–28-7725290; PA-28-150 28-03; PA-28-150 28-1–28-4377; PA-28-150 28-1760A; PA-28-160 28-03; …
Show all 8 ADs
ADSubjectEffectiveApplies to
2004-14-12The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Models PA-28-161, PA-28-181, PA-28R-201, PA-32R-301 (HP)…Aug 10, 2004Airframe (PA-28-161)Certain serial numbers: PA-28-161 2842026–2842180; PA-28-181 2843112–2843565; PA-28R-201 2844014–2844099; PA-32R-301 3246098–3246214; PA-32R-301T 3257028–3257327; PA-34-220T 3449042–3449292; …
99-26-05The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA- 25, PA-25-235, PA-25-260, PA-28S-160…Jan 13, 2000Airframe (PA-28-161)Only with: Equipped with Purolator air filter P/N 638873, Model CA161PL, or Piper P/N 460-632 (PS60007-2); PA-28-151/161 only when STC SA2946SO is incorporated.
95-26-13The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA28 and PA32 Series…Feb 5, 1996Airframe (PA-28-161)Only with: Equipped with oil cooler hose assemblies that do not meet TSO-C53a, Type D requirements.

AI-extracted — verify against original. Matched from each AD's applicability section; ADs replaced by a later AD are left out.

Service Difficulty Reports (1)

Reports of failures and defects that operators and repair stations sent to the FAA since 1995. A report describes one finding; it is not an accident.

  • Reciprocating engine · crankshaft · failedDec 31, 1997

    AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM HANSCOM AND LANDED AT NANTUCKET WITHOUT INCIDENT. PILOT GOT BACK INTO AIRCRAFT AND TAXIED TO THE RUNWAY. DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, PILOT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND AND ABORTED TAKEOFF AND TAXIED BACK TO HANGAR. AFTER PULLING ALL THE CYLINDERS OFF AND REMOVING ALL CONNECTING…

    From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.

Related aircraft

Show all 8 related aircraft
All 1,541 registered Piper PA-28-161 aircraft

Sources

  • FAA Aircraft RegistryRegistration, owner city and state, airframe, engineupdated Oct 20, 2026
  • NTSB accident and incident databaseAccidents and incidents since 1982updated Oct 15, 2026
  • FAA Airworthiness Directives (Federal Register)ADs published since 1998updated Oct 20, 2026
  • FAA Service Difficulty ReportsReports since 1995updated Oct 16, 2026

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