Piper Chieftain Aircraft 1970s
Pre-1980 piston twins are largely 1960s-70s vintage workhorses — Cessna 310, original Baron 55/58, Piper Apache/Aztec/Twin Comanche. Engines are typically on second or third overhaul; avionics typically replaced; pressurised variants (rare in this era) need pressure-vessel inspection. These are demanding aircraft to own well; budget for both engines on potentially divergent overhaul cycles, mandate-upgrade investment if not already complete, and corrosion-prone-area inspection.
15 used Piper Chieftain aircraft for sale 1970s · $90K – $553K · updated 21 min ago
About the Piper Chieftain
The Piper Chieftain (PA-31-350) is the stretched, higher-capacity development of the Navajo — a ten-seat cabin-class piston twin built as a commuter and cargo workhorse. With a longer fuselage, more powerful counter-rotating turbocharged engines and strong useful load, it served scheduled commuter and freight operators for decades and still earns its keep in utility roles today.
Piper Chieftain Specifications
Model specPiper has not yet published final specifications for the Chieftain. This section will populate automatically once official specs are released — in the meantime you can browse current listings above.
15 Piper Chieftain For Sale
Browse all 15 listings →There are currently 15 used Piper Chieftain for sale, ranging from $90,000 to $553,090, with a median asking price of $212,364.
Compare Piper Chieftain
Detailed comparisons for the Piper Chieftain are being prepared.
Browse all Piper models →Piper Chieftain Price & Cost
How much does a Piper Chieftain cost? Used Chieftain prices: $90K – $553K, average $235K (median $212K), across 10 priced of 15 active listings.
Based on 10 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 Chieftain
When buying a Piper Chieftain, the biggest value drivers are engine time since overhaul, maintenance-record completeness, damage history and avionics.
What to check before buying
- Engine time to overhaul — hours and years remaining drive price more than total airframe time.
- Logbook completeness — continuous, gap-free maintenance records protect value.
- Damage history — any prior accident or incident; cross-check the registration against accident databases.
- Avionics — a modern glass panel vs legacy 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 Chieftain
How much does a used Piper Chieftain cost?
How many seats does a Chieftain have?
How is the Chieftain different from the Navajo?
Does the Chieftain have counter-rotating engines?
Piper Chieftain Inventory by Country
| United States | 27 |
| Canada | 7 |
| Australia | 4 |
| Denmark | 1 |
| Jamaica | 1 |
Piper Chieftain by Price
| Under $200k | 6 |
| Under $300k | 14 |
| Under $500k | 18 |
Recently Sold Piper Chieftain
| 1973 Chieftain | $276,211 |
Piper Chieftain Safety Record
No NTSB events on record for the Piper Chieftain. Individual aircraft safety records may be available on detail pages.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database