Piper Seneca Aircraft in Australia

Australian-registered aircraft (VH- prefix) operate under CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) certification. Active GA market with strong Daher TBM, Cirrus, Cessna and Beechcraft fleets. Outback flying creates active utility aircraft market (Cessna Caravan, Pilatus PC-12). Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth major hubs.

The Piper Seneca (PA-34) is a six-seat piston twin with counter-rotating propellers — a clever design that eliminates the "critical engine" and makes twin handling much more forgiving than a conventional twin. Powered by twin turbocharged Continental TSIO-360 engines, the Seneca cruises around 190 knots and is one of the most accessible cabin-class twins. Production spans the Seneca I (1971) through the current Seneca V, with intercooler and avionics improvements at each step.

Piper Seneca aircraft for sale

6 used Piper Seneca aircraft for sale in Australia · 6-seat · Used median asking $229,000 · updated 27 min ago

Piper Seneca Specifications

Model spec

The Piper Seneca is a 6-seat multi engine piston with a cruise speed of 180 kt (333 km/h), a range of 750 nm (1,389 km), and a useful load of 1,590 lbs (721 kg).

Performance
Cruise180 kt (333 km/h)
Max Speed196 kt (363 km/h)
Range750 nm (1,389 km)
Service Ceiling25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Engine & Fuel
Horsepower220 HP
Fuel Capacity123.0 gal (466 L)
Fuel Burn22.0 GPH (83 L/h)
TBO1,800 hrs
Weights & Seats
Seats6
Max Gross Weight4,750 lbs (2,155 kg)
Useful Load1,590 lbs (721 kg)
Production1972–present

Piper Seneca for Sale

Piper Seneca asking prices range from $53,000 to $750,826, with a median of $229,000 (market reference $200,000).

$99,025
For Sale
Total Time 5,660
Reg# ZK-WUG New Zealand
Location Perth, Western Australia, Australia
5 sources
$172,421
For Sale
Reg# VH-FYU Australia
Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
3 sources
Contact for Price
On Request
Total Time 6,490
Location Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
3 sources
$81,870
For Sale
Total Time 6,465
Reg# VH-STJ Australia
Location New South Wales, Australia
Listed yesterday
$173,107
For Sale
Total Time 5,050
Reg# VH-MCK Australia
Location New South Wales, Australia
Listed yesterday
$551,585
For Sale
Total Time 2,625
Reg# VH-LMI Australia
Location Victoria, Australia
Listed yesterday

Compare Piper Seneca

See how the Piper Seneca stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.

Piper Seneca Price & Cost

How much does a Piper Seneca cost? Used Seneca prices: $53K – $750K, average $229K (median $229K); market reference $200K, across 78 priced of 6 active listings.

Piper Seneca Price Guide
Market Deal RatingAeroGurus rating
Great Deal
24%
19
Good Deal
28%
22
Fair Price
46%
37
Overpriced
2%
2

Based on 80 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.

Piper Seneca Cost of Ownership estimate
Fuel (22.0 GPH × $6.20, 100 hrs)$13,640/yr
Annual Fixed (hangar, insurance, annual)$25,000/yr
Variable (per hour)$280/hr
Engine Overhaul (every 1,800 hrs)$40,000
Estimates at 100 flight hours/year. Actual costs vary by usage, location and insurance.

Buying a Used Piper Seneca

Buying a Piper Seneca comes down to a focused pre-purchase checklist — here is what matters most on this model:

What to check before buying

  • Both engines — turbocharged TSIO-360 time and history on each side; mismatched engine times are common and affect price.
  • Turbo systems — turbos and intercoolers (Seneca III onwards) are critical and costly.
  • Counter-rotating props — gearbox/governor condition.
  • Avionics & mandates — Garmin glass or steam; ADS-B/IFR.
  • Generation — Seneca II added turbo; III added intercoolers; V is current.

Which Seneca? A Seneca V (1997+) is the most modern; a Seneca III/IV is the value sweet-spot with intercooled turbos. The Seneca II is the cheapest entry but the oldest turbo system.

Frequently Asked Questions — Piper Seneca

Cost?
$229,000.
Seneca vs Seminole?
Seneca = six seats, turbo, cross-country; Seminole = four seats, naturally
Counter-rotating advantage?
No critical engine — both engines fail symmetrically, making engine-out
How fast?
About 190 knots cruise on the III/IV/V; less on the original Seneca I.

Piper Seneca Inventory by Country

United States49
Germany13
United Kingdom9
Australia6
Switzerland6
New Zealand4

Piper Seneca by Price

Under $200k2
Under $300k3
Under $500k4

Piper Seneca by Decade

1970s4
1980s1
1990s1

Recently Sold Piper Seneca

1979 Seneca$53,424
1975 Seneca$17,500
1978 Seneca$128,700
1976 Seneca$82,000
1993 Seneca$240,000
1975 Seneca$95,000

Piper Seneca Safety Record

Across all Seneca variants, 2 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 2006–2008. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.

2

Total Events

1

Incidents

0

Serious

0

Fatal

Most Recent Events

Date Location Severity Probable Cause
May 31, 2008 Plaquemine, LA Incident The certified flight instructor's poor decision to simulate a loss of engine on takeoff with a wet runway and the pilot'…
Jan 09, 2006 Van Nuys, CA Minor The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Also causal was the flight instructor's delayed rem…

NTSB records 2006–2008. Includes all Piper Seneca variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.

Disclaimer: All prices, cost estimates, and market values shown are based on asking prices from third-party sources and are provided for informational purposes only. AeroGurus is not an appraiser, broker, or financial advisor. Always obtain a professional appraisal and independent inspection before making a purchase decision.
Listings last refreshed 27 min ago · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data