Twin piston

N40978

1981 Piper Navajo Chieftain

Registered 2 NTSB/FAA records
Built
1981
Serial
31-8152199
Class
Twin piston
Engines
2 × Lycoming IO-540 series
Status
Current as of October 2026
Registered owner
Dodson International Parts Inc (Corporation)
Based
Rantoul, KS
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Registration record

N40978 on the FAA register

Type
1981 Piper Navajo Chieftain (FAA: Piper PA-31-350)
Serial
31-8152199
Engines
2 × Lycoming IO-540 series
Registered owner
Dodson International Parts Inc
Rantoul, KS
Certificate issued
—
Airworthiness date
1981-11-13
Registration expires
—
Airworthiness class
Standard · normal
Mode S (hex)
A4D17E
Mode S (octal)
51150576
Seats (type)
8
Weight class
up to 12,499 lb
Status
Current as of October 2026
Registry history

Timeline

  • 2006-07-11
    Accident at Indianapolis, IN; damage: substantial.
  • 1989-03-02
    Accident at Toms River, NJ; damage: substantial.
  • 1981-11-13
    Airworthiness date on the current FAA record (standard category (normal)).
  • 1975-02-24
    N40978 previously assigned to a Piper Cherokee 180 / Archer / Challenger 180 (s/n 28-7405080); cancelled.
Overview

About N40978

N40978 is a 1981 Piper Navajo Chieftain (FAA model PA-31-350), serial number 31-8152199. The FAA register lists Dodson International Parts Inc as the registrant in Rantoul, Kansas.

The FAA aircraft reference file describes the type as a twin piston, two Lycoming IO-540 series engines and 8 seats. Its airworthiness certificate is standard category (normal), dated November 13, 1981.

N40978 has 2 accident/incident records on file (most serious damage: substantial); details are below.

Safety record

Accident & incident history

2006-07-11 Accident · Indianapolis, IN Damage: Substantial NTSB · CHI06CA181
Reported aircraft: Piper PA-31-350
Probable cause: The failure of the tug driver to maintain clearance from the airplane taxiing on an active taxiway. A factor was the night conditions.
1989-03-02 Accident · Toms River, NJ Damage: Substantial NTSB · NYC89FA093
Reported aircraft: Piper PA-31-350
Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AUTOPLT MALFUNCTION DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PREFLIGHT THE AUTOPILOT BEFORE USING IT IN FLIGHT.

Sources: NTSB aviation accident database and CAROL case system, FAA preliminary accident & incident notices. Search accident records

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Browse: Piper aircraft for sale· Piper Navajo Chieftain overview· Aircraft registered in Kansas· Registry by state· FAA registry stats

Data: FAA Aircraft Registry (October 2026), including deregistered aircraft; NTSB and FAA accident data; fyiAero listing history. Individual owners' names are shown to signed-in users and street addresses are never shown. Type figures are published specifications, not this aircraft's.