Piper Seminole vs Piper Seneca

The Piper Seneca and the Piper Seminole are two Piper piston twins built for different jobs — the six-seat Seneca and the four-seat Seminole. The Seneca is a roomy cabin twin for family and business travel, often turbocharged; the Seminole a lighter, counter-rotating multi-engine trainer. Where each trades now is below.

Live Market Snapshot

Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily

Piper Seminole
For sale now
5
Listed on 2+ marketplaces
1
Source marketplaces
4
Model years available
1978–2023
Piper Seneca
For sale now
111
Median asking
$227,990
Range
$89,465–$640,128
Listed on 2+ marketplaces
39
Source marketplaces
11
Model years available
1967–2023

Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.

Safety Record

Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.

NTSB (1982–now)Piper SeminolePiper Seneca
All events—2
Serious—0
Fatal—0
Fatalities—0
% Fatal—0%
View full Piper Seminole NTSB record →View full Piper Seneca NTSB record →

Full Specs Comparison

Swipe to see all specs
Spec / Model Piper Seminole Piper Seneca
Piper Seminole
View 5 listings →
Median $187,260
 Piper Seneca
View 109 listings →
Median $227,990
Price Range $153,780 – $350,178 $89,465 – $640,128
Category Multi Engine Piston Multi Engine Piston
Model Specifications
Seats 4 6
Horsepower 180 HP 220 HP
Cruise Speed 162 kts (300 km/h) 180 kts (333 km/h)
Range 915 nm (1,695 km) 750 nm (1,389 km)
Service Ceiling 15,000 ft (4,572 m) 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Max Gross Weight 3,800 lbs (1,724 kg) 4,750 lbs (2,155 kg)
Useful Load 1,370 lbs (621 kg) 1,590 lbs (721 kg)
Fuel Capacity — 123.0 gal (466 L)
Fuel Burn 18.0 GPH (68 L/h) 22.0 GPH (83 L/h)
TBO — 1,800 hrs
Overhaul Cost — $40,000
Annual Fixed — $25,000
Hourly Variable — $280
Engines 2 x Piston 2 x Piston (Turbocharged)

Cost of Ownership

Estimate

Piper Seminole

Fuel$99/hr

Piper Seneca

Fuel$121/hr
Variable$280/hr
Annual Fixed$25,000/yr
Total (200 hrs/yr) $81,000/yr

Which Should You Buy: Piper Seminole or Piper Seneca?

Bottom line: Choose the Seneca for six-seat travel — a roomy cabin twin with a good load and turbocharged options for altitude. Choose the Seminole for multi-engine training — a light, benign twin with counter-rotating propellers, the flight-school standard for building twin time. On safety both are piston twins with engine-out redundancy but, like all light twins, rewarding engine-out proficiency; the difference is mission — travel versus training — not safety. Six-seat traveller, or the trainer twin.

Pick the Seminole if…

  • Longer range — 915 nm vs 750 nm.

Pick the Seneca if…

  • Budget matters — from $89,465 vs $153,780, you save ~$64,315.
  • More seats — 6 vs 4.
  • Faster cruise — 180 kts vs 162 kts.
  • More inventory — 109 listings vs 5.

Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the Seneca and Seminole?
The Seneca is a six-seat cabin twin for travel, often turbocharged; the Seminole a four-seat counter-rotating twin built for multi-engine training. They differ in size and mission.
Which carries more?
The Seneca — six seats and a roomy cabin for family and business trips. The Seminole is a lighter four-seat trainer.
Which is the training twin?
The Seminole — its counter-rotating props and benign handling make it the multi-engine trainer standard. The Seneca is built more for travel.
Which is better, Piper Seminole or Piper Seneca?
It depends on your mission and budget. The Seminole cruises at 162 kts with 915 nm range. The Seneca cruises at 180 kts with 750 nm range. Review the specs table above to find which fits your flying profile.
How do prices compare?
Piper Seminole: from $151,800. Piper Seneca: from $251,249. Prices vary by year, hours, avionics, and condition. Always get a pre-buy inspection.
What's the difference between Piper Seminole and Piper Seneca?
Seats: 4 vs 6. Cruise: 162 vs 180 kts. Range: 915 vs 750 nm.
Which is cheaper to operate per hour?
Seneca: about $280/hr variable cost. Variable cost includes fuel, reserves and overhaul accruals. Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add to the total.
Which has more seats and useful load?
Seminole: 4 seats / 1,370 lb useful load. Seneca: 6 seats / 1,590 lb useful load. Useful load = max gross weight minus empty weight; it determines how much fuel plus payload you can carry.
How does maintenance compare — TBO and overhaul cost?
Seneca: 1,800-hour TBO, overhaul ~$40,000. Reaching the time-between-overhaul (TBO) triggers a mandatory engine/airframe rebuild that affects resale value.
Disclaimer: All prices and cost estimates are from third-party sources for informational purposes only. Always obtain professional appraisal and inspection before purchase.
Prices updated daily · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data