Piper Dakota Aircraft in Georgia
Georgia's GA infrastructure centres on Atlanta (PDK, KFTY), Savannah (the Gulfstream home base) and South Georgia. Significant aviation industry including Gulfstream factory operations, Lockheed Martin and major MRO facilities. Year-round VFR weather supports active flying.
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.
· 4-seat · Used median asking $170,000 · updated recently
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
Piper Dakota asking prices range from $125,000 to $249,000, with a median of $170,000 (market reference $170,000).
No Piper Dakota currently listed for sale.
This page updates automatically the moment one is listed — check back soon, or browse the Piper range.
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 0 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