Aircraft record

N4878S1971 Piper PA-32-260

Registration validUnclaimedSource: FAA, updated Oct 17, 2026

Safety record in brief:1 NTSB accident (substantial damage, Jul 1988)9 ADs may apply

Registration: Valid; expires Jul 31, 2029
Based in: Salem, OR; owner city / state
Engine: O-540-E4B5 · 260 hp; Lycoming
Owners: 1; since 1998
NTSB events: 1; substantial, 1988
ADs may apply: 9; confirm with A&P
Service reports: 0; since 1995

Registration

FAA Aircraft Registry · Oct 17, 2026

Registered owner: Garmin International INC
Owner type: Corporation
City, state: Salem, OR
Certificate issued: Feb 18, 1998
Expires: Jul 31, 2029
Airworthiness: Experimental · Research and Development, Operating Kit Built Aircraft
Airworthiness date: Apr 30, 2026

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-32-260
Year: 1971
Serial number: 32-7100002
Aircraft type: Fixed wing single engine
Category: Land
Certification: Type Certificated
Seats: 6
Engines: 1
Max takeoff weight: Up to 12,499 lb
Mode S code: A6061B

Engine

Make and model: Lycoming O-540-E4b5
Type: Reciprocating
Power: 260 hp

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

Ownership history

Ownership history from FAA records

1998 – nowGarmin International INCSalem, OR · current

Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Safety record

NTSB · Oct 15, 2026 · FAA ADs · Oct 17, 2026 · SDRs · Oct 16, 2026

NTSB events (1)

Accident · substantial damage

Jul 3, 1988 · Colorado Spring, CO

THE PLT AND PAX DEPARTED ST. LOUIS AND STOPPED TWICE ENROUTE DUE TO WX. THE PLT WAS GIVEN LANDING CLEARANCE ON RWY 17 AT COLORADO SPRINGS AND THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 190 DEGREES AT 12 KTS. WITNESSES AT THE ARPT STATED N4878S 'PORPOISED' SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LANDING BEFORE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLT WAS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED AND HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 66 HOURS WITH 18 HOURS…

Damage: Substantial
Injuries: None
Report: DEN88LA144

From NTSB records; matched by serial number.Read NTSB report (search CAROL for DEN88LA144)

Accident history for this model

ADs published since 1998 that may apply (9)

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.

AD	Subject	Effective	Applies to
2026-17-10	Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section	Sep 14, 2026	Engine (O-540-E4B5)Serial numbers per Table 2 or Table 3 of Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 667A, dated March 12, 2026. Only with: Installed piston pin P/N LW-13445 with an OEM FAA Form 8130-3 production dated between January 7, 2021 and December 15, 2025, or where the production date cannot be determined or the form is unavailable.
2013-02-13	Stabilizer Control System	Mar 11, 2013	Airframe (PA-32-260)
2010-15-10	Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-28, PA-32, PA-34, and PA-44 Series Airplanes	Aug 31, 2010	Airframe (PA-32-260)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; …
2006-10-21	Engine Components Incorporated (ECi) Reciprocating Engine Connecting Rods	Jun 22, 2006	Engine (O-540-E4B5)Only with: ECi connecting rods P/N AEL11750 (forging P/N AEL11488) installed, rod serial numbers 54/6 and below, produced between January 2002 and January 2004.
2005-19-11	Lycoming Engines (Formerly Textron Lycoming) AEIO-360, IO-360, O-360, LIO-360, LO-360…	Oct 21, 2005	Engine (O-540-E4B5)Only with: Engines rated at 300 HP or lower, manufactured new, rebuilt, or overhauled after March 1, 1999, or that had a crankshaft installed after March 1, 1999.

Show all 9 ADs

AD	Subject	Effective	Applies to
2004-05-24	Lycoming Engines (Formerly Textron Lycoming) AEIO-540, IO-540, LTIO-540, O-540, and…	Mar 30, 2004	Engine (O-540-E4B5)Only with: Engines with crankshaft gear retaining bolts P/N STD-2209 installed; excludes O-540-F series engines subject to AD 99-03-05 with bolt not since replaced, engines with bolt installed at original assembly or replaced by Lycoming per SB 554 after November 10, 1998, engines with bolt from replacement kits 05K19987, 05K23325, 05K23326, 05K23327, 05K23335 or 05K23336, and engines with single-drive dual magnetos.
99-05-09	The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-23, PA- 24, PA-28, PA-32, and PA-34 Series Airplanes	Mar 19, 1999	Airframe (PA-32-260)Certain serial numbers: PA-23-235 27-505–27-622; PA-23-250 27-01–27-2504; PA-24-180 24-103–24-3687; PA-24-250 24-103–24-3687; PA-24-260 24-3642; PA-24-260 24-4000–24-5028; …. Only with: Equipped with Purolator air filter P/N 638873, Model CA161PL, or Piper P/N 460-632 (PS60007-2).
99-04-04	Textron Lycoming Reciprocating Engines IO-540 and O-540 Engines Equipped With Slick…	Feb 25, 1999	Engine (O-540-E4B5)Only with: Equipped with Slick Aircraft Products magneto model numbers 6251, 6252, 6255, 6351 or 6355.
95-26-13	The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA28 and PA32 Series…	Feb 5, 1996	Airframe (PA-32-260)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 (0)

No Service Difficulty Reports found for this airframe since 1995.

Sources

FAA Aircraft RegistryRegistration, owner city and state, airframe, engineupdated Oct 17, 2026
NTSB accident and incident databaseAccidents and incidents since 1982updated Oct 15, 2026
FAA Airworthiness Directives (Federal Register)ADs published since 1998updated Oct 17, 2026
FAA Service Difficulty ReportsReports since 1995updated Oct 16, 2026

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