Piper Cherokee Aircraft in California
California's diverse terrain (coastal, high-desert, mountain) makes it a strong test market for high-performance and turbocharged aircraft. Significant GA infrastructure spans LA Basin, SF Bay Area, San Diego and Central Valley. Coastal flying demands attention to corrosion; mountain flying needs hot-and-high training.
52 used Piper Cherokee aircraft for sale in California · 4-seat · $44K – $400K · updated 6 hours ago
About the Piper Cherokee
The Piper Cherokee (PA-28) is one of the most successful piston-single families ever built — a low-wing, four-seat aircraft in production since 1960. The line spans the original Cherokee 140/180/235, the tapered-wing Warrior trainer, the 180 hp Archer (still in production), the 235 hp Dakota and the retractable-gear Arrow. All share a common steel-tube cage, a Lycoming O-320/O-360/IO-540 engine (depending on variant) and the reliable simplicity that made Piper a flight-school staple. There are currently 52 used Cherokee/PA-28 aircraft for sale.
Piper Cherokee Specifications
Model specThe Piper Cherokee is a 4-seat single engine piston with a cruise speed of 115–145 kt (213–269 km/h), a range of 455–800 nm (843–1,482 km), and a useful load of 850–1,510 lbs (386–685 kg).
52 Piper Cherokee For Sale
Browse all 52 listings →There are currently 52 used Piper Cherokee for sale, ranging from $44,950 to $400,000, with a median asking price of $107,500.
Piper Cherokee Variants
| Variant | Years | Seats | Cruise | Range | Useful load | Price range | Best for | Listings for sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archer | — | — | — | — | — | $25K – $554K | Buy the Archer if you want the best balance of cabin load, speed and running cost in a fixed-gear four-seater that is still supported and built new. Consider the Piper Warrior to save money on training, or the Piper Arrow if you want retractable gear and a complex rating. | 88 |
| Arrow | 1967–2009 | 4 | 135 kts (250 km/h) | 720 nm (1,333 km) | 940 lbs (426 kg) | $44K – $429K | Buy the Arrow if you want a faster, complex-rated four-seater and the speed bump of retractable gear. Consider the Piper Archer if you would rather avoid the extra maintenance, insurance and gear inspections of a retractable, or the Turbo Arrow if you regularly fly high or in hot-and-high terrain. | 185 |
| Cadet | — | — | — | — | — | from $93K | Buy the Cadet if you want a low-cost, rugged PA-28 trainer and don't need rear seats. Consider a four-seat Piper Warrior or the modern Pilot 100i if you need to carry passengers or want updated avionics. | 3 |
| Cherokee 140 | 1964–1977 | 4 | 115 kts (213 km/h) | 455 nm (843 km) | — | $20K – $150K | Buy the Cherokee 140 if you want the lowest-cost way into Cherokee ownership for training and local flying. Consider the Piper Warrior for the better-handling tapered wing and a bit more useful load, or the Cherokee 180 if you need more power to carry four people properly. | 107 |
| Cherokee 160 | — | — | — | — | — | $59K – $95K | Buy the Cherokee 160 if you want a low-cost four-seat Cherokee with a bit more muscle than the 140. Consider the Cherokee 180 if you regularly carry four adults, or the Piper Warrior for the more modern tapered wing and gentler stall. | 8 |
| Cherokee 180 | 1963–1975 | — | — | — | — | $9K – $235K | Buy the Cherokee 180 if you want an inexpensive, capable four-seat Cherokee that can actually carry four people. Consider the Piper Archer if you prefer the later tapered wing and the option of a still-in-production airframe, or the Cherokee 140/160 to save money for lighter use. | 77 |
| Cherokee 235 | 1964–1972 | — | — | — | — | $90K – $195K | Buy the Cherokee 235 if you want maximum load-hauling on a budget and don't mind the older constant-chord wing. Consider the tapered-wing Piper Dakota for cleaner handling and a bit more speed, or the six-seat Piper Cherokee Six if you need more than four seats. | 31 |
| Cherokee Six | 1965–1979 | 7 | 145 kts (269 km/h) | 800 nm (1,482 km) | 1,510 lbs (685 kg) | $79K – $495K | Buy a Cherokee Six if you want maximum useful load and simple fixed-gear ownership; the 300 hp version gives noticeably better climb and load. Step up to the Lance or Saratoga SP if you want retractable-gear cruise speed instead. | 47 |
| Dakota | — | — | — | — | — | $125K – $494K | Buy the Dakota if you want the most power and useful load in a fixed-gear PA-28 and routinely fly with four people and bags. Consider the Piper Archer if you mostly fly one or two up and want lower fuel burn, or the retractable Piper Arrow if cruise speed matters more than cabin load. | 20 |
| Pilot 100i | — | — | — | — | — | $250K – $350K | Buy the Pilot 100i if you want a new or nearly-new PA-28 trainer with modern Garmin glass and full factory support. Consider the in-production Piper Archer if you need a true four-seat owner aircraft, or a used Warrior to train at a much lower acquisition cost. | 2 |
| Warrior | — | — | — | — | — | $61K – $494K | Buy the Warrior if you want the cheapest practical way to train and build hours in a stable, forgiving four-seater. Consider the Piper Archer if you need the extra 20-30 hp of the 180 engine for better climb and load when carrying four people and bags. | 72 |
Compare Piper Cherokee
Detailed comparisons for the Piper Cherokee are being prepared.
Browse all Piper models →Piper Cherokee Price & Cost
How much does a Piper Cherokee cost? Used Cherokee prices: $44K – $400K, average $124K (median $107K), across 51 priced of 52 active listings.
Based on 186 priced listings.
Key price factors: engine time to overhaul, year and airframe hours, avionics, damage history and logbook completeness — see the buying guide below for the full pre-purchase checklist.
Buying a Used Piper Cherokee
Every Piper Cherokee faces a mandatory 2,000-hour overhaul, so the single biggest factor in used price is how much time remains before that overhaul is due — a fresh-overhaul airframe can be worth a large share of the $28,000 overhaul cost more than one approaching its limit.
What to check before buying
- Time to overhaul — hours and years remaining to the 2,000-hour limit; this dominates resale value more than total time.
- Logbook completeness — continuous, gap-free maintenance records; missing logs cut value and complicate financing.
- Damage history — any prior accident, hard landing or blade strike; cross-check the registration against accident databases.
- Avionics — a glass panel vs steam gauges materially changes price.
- Pre-buy inspection — always commission an independent inspection by a type-experienced mechanic before money changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions — Piper Cherokee
What is the difference between a Piper Cherokee, Warrior and Archer?
What is the Piper PA-28 wing-spar AD?
How many seats does a Piper Cherokee have?
Is the Piper Cherokee still in production?
Piper Cherokee Inventory by Country
| United States | 4 |
Piper Cherokee Inventory by State
| California | 2 |
Piper Cherokee by Price
| Under $100k | 4 |
| Under $200k | 4 |
| Under $300k | 4 |
| Under $500k | 4 |
Recently Sold Piper Cherokee
| Cherokee | $57,500 |
Piper Cherokee Safety Record
Across all Cherokee variants, 1 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 1984–1984. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.
Most Recent Events
| Date | Location | Severity | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 24, 1984 | PENNINGTON, NJ | Minor | — |
NTSB records 1984–1984. Includes all Piper Cherokee variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.