I've compiled python 2.5.1 on AIX 5.3 with ncurses 5.6 and I get segmentation faults as soon as any curses.panel  tries to make a new panel.

The following test program gives a segmentation fault for me (remove the new_panel line and it works fine):

import curses
from curses import panel
def mkpanel(scr):
        win = curses.newwin(8,8,1,1)
        pan = panel.new_panel(win)
curses.wrapper(mkpanel)

Also the test_curses program triggers this segfault. A traceback puts the problem in:

root_panel(), line 57 in "p_new.c"
new_panel(win = 0x0000000110246dc0), line 90 in "p_new.c"
PyCurses_new_panel(self = (nil), args = 0x0000000110246dc0), line 396 in "_curses_panel.c"
PyCFunction_Call(func = 0x000000011024a368, arg = 0x0000000110246dc0, kw = (nil)), line 73 in "methodobject.c"

Note that the ncurses I've compiled works fine with the shipped test programs, so it seems to be an issue with the python interaction.

Please let me know if there is anything else that I can provide to help track this bug down.