Piper Dakota Aircraft (PA-28-236)
The Piper Dakota (PA-28-236) is the high-power, fixed-gear Cherokee — a 235 hp Lycoming O-540 in the standard PA-28 airframe. The result is a cruise of about 140 knots and a useful load materially higher than the Archer's, making the Dakota the practical hauler of the PA-28 family. Production was relatively short, so the used market is thinner than for Warriors and Archers.
20 used Piper Dakota aircraft for sale · 4-seat · Used median asking $170,000 · updated 13 hours ago
Piper Dakota Specifications
Model specThe Piper Dakota is a 4-seat single engine piston with a cruise speed of 115–143 kt (213–265 km/h), a range of 455–745 nm (843–1,380 km), and a useful load of 850–1,410 lbs (386–640 kg).
Piper Dakota for Sale
Browse all listings →Piper Dakota asking prices range from $125,000 to $249,000, with a median of $170,000 (market reference $170,000).
Piper Dakota Variants
| Variant | Years | Seats | Cruise | Range | Useful load | Price range | Best for | Listings for sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee 180 | 1963–1975 | 4 | 124 kts (230 km/h) | 630 nm (1,167 km) | 1,055 lbs (479 kg) | $22K – $179K | 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. | 74 |
| Cherokee 140 | 1964–1977 | 4 | 115 kts (213 km/h) | 455 nm (843 km) | 920 lbs (417 kg) | $20K – $130K | 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. | 98 |
| Cherokee 235 | 1964–1975 | 4 | 130 kts (241 km/h) | 745 nm (1,380 km) | 1,410 lbs (640 kg) | $89K – $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. | 34 |
| Arrow | 1967–2014 | 4 | 135 kts (250 km/h) | 720 nm (1,333 km) | 940 lbs (426 kg) | $44K – $232K | 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. | 162 |
| Archer | — | 4 | 124 kts (230 km/h) | 703 nm (1,302 km) | 900 lbs (408 kg) | $3K – $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. | 77 |
| Cadet | — | 2 | 115 kts (213 km/h) | 525 nm (972 km) | 850 lbs (386 kg) | — | 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. | 2 |
| Cherokee 160 | — | 4 | 119 kts (220 km/h) | 474 nm (878 km) | 950 lbs (431 kg) | $47K – $109K | 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 |
| Pilot 100i | — | 3 | 128 kts (237 km/h) | 522 nm (967 km) | 900 lbs (408 kg) | — | 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 | — | 4 | 127 kts (235 km/h) | 640 nm (1,185 km) | 972 lbs (441 kg) | $34K – $178K | 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. | 59 |
Compare Piper Dakota
Detailed comparisons for the Piper Dakota are being prepared.
Browse all Piper models →Piper Dakota Price & Cost
How much does a Piper Dakota cost? Used Dakota prices: $125K – $249K, average $170K (median $170K); market reference $170K, across 17 priced of 20 active 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.
Piper Dakota Value by Model Year
Median asking price by year of manufacture. Newer airframes command a premium; value falls with age then plateaus on older models.
Lowest around $155,000 (2001 models) · highest around $491,000 (2023). Bars scaled across the range to show the depreciation curve; hover for exact medians.
Buying a Used Piper Dakota
Buying a Piper Dakota comes down to a focused pre-purchase checklist — here is what matters most on this model:
What to check before buying
Frequently Asked Questions — Piper Dakota
How much can a Piper Dakota carry?
What is the difference between the Dakota and the Cherokee 235?
How fast is a Piper Dakota?
Does the Dakota have the wing-spar AD?
Piper Dakota Inventory by Country
| United States | 19 |
| New Zealand | 1 |
Piper Dakota Inventory by State
| California | 56 |
| Florida | 52 |
| Texas | 51 |
| Kentucky | 23 |
| Illinois | 13 |
| Georgia | 12 |
| Oklahoma | 11 |
| New Jersey | 11 |
| Arizona | 11 |
| South Carolina | 10 |
| Missouri | 10 |
| Pennsylvania | 10 |
Piper Dakota by Price
| Under $100k | 247 |
| Under $200k | 527 |
| Under $300k | 555 |
| Under $500k | 575 |
Recently Sold Piper Dakota
| 1979 Dakota | $69,768 |
| 1979 Dakota | $143,479 |
| 1979 Dakota | $107,500 |
Piper Dakota Safety Record
No NTSB events on record for the Piper Dakota. Individual aircraft safety records may be available on detail pages.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database