Piper Warrior Aircraft under $100,000
Under $100k for a piston single is the value-entry price band — typically older airframes (1960s-80s), mid-life or run-out engines, original or basic avionics with retrofit ADS-B Out compliance. These are entry-budget trainers and touring singles. Budget realistically for engine work, ADS-B Out compliance if not yet installed, panel upgrades and corrosion-area inspection.
The Piper Warrior (PA-28-151 and the more common PA-28-161 Warrior II/III) is the modern, tapered-wing version of the Cherokee — Piper's volume trainer for the last four decades. Powered by a 150-160 hp Lycoming O-320, it cruises around 115 knots, lands at gentle speeds and is one of the most forgiving four-seat aircraft you can learn in. With thousands in flight-school service worldwide, the Warrior has unmatched parts and instructor support. Most have spent their lives training pilots, so condition and history matter more here than on most singles.
39 used Piper Warrior aircraft for sale under $100,000 · 4-seat · Used median asking $90,000 · updated 3 hours ago
Piper Warrior Specifications
Model specThe Piper Warrior 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 Warrior for Sale
Browse all listings →Piper Warrior asking prices range from $34,000 to $178,000, with a median of $90,000 (market reference $80,000).
Piper Warrior 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 |
| Dakota | — | 4 | 143 kts (265 km/h) | 650 nm (1,204 km) | 1,150 lbs (522 kg) | $125K – $249K | 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. | 17 |
| 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 |
Compare Piper Warrior
See how the Piper Warrior stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.
⏲ Compare Cherokee vs Warrior vs Archer →Piper Warrior Price & Cost
How much does a Piper Warrior cost? Used Warrior prices: $34K – $178K, average $90K (median $90K); market reference $80K, across 59 priced of 39 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 Warrior 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 $138,950 (2005 models) · highest around $491,000 (2023). Bars scaled across the range to show the depreciation curve; hover for exact medians.
Buying a Used Piper Warrior
Buying a Piper Warrior 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 Warrior
How much does a used Piper Warrior cost?
Warrior or Archer?
Is the Piper Warrior a good first airplane?
How fast does a Warrior cruise?
Piper Warrior Inventory by Country
| United States | 51 |
| United Kingdom | 9 |
| Canada | 4 |
| Germany | 3 |
| France | 2 |
| Italy | 2 |
Piper Warrior Inventory by State
| California | 57 |
| Florida | 55 |
| Texas | 51 |
| Kentucky | 24 |
| Illinois | 13 |
| Georgia | 13 |
| South Carolina | 12 |
| Arizona | 11 |
| New Jersey | 11 |
| Oklahoma | 11 |
| North Carolina | 10 |
| Ohio | 10 |
Piper Warrior by Price
| Under $100k | 256 |
| Under $200k | 542 |
| Under $300k | 571 |
| Under $500k | 591 |
Recently Sold Piper Warrior
| 1979 Warrior | $150,000 |
| 1982 Warrior | $64,574 |
| 1977 Warrior | $105,000 |
| 1977 Warrior | $44,500 |
| 1979 Warrior | $100,738 |
| 1979 Warrior | $98,500 |
Piper Warrior Safety Record
No NTSB events on record for the Piper Warrior. Individual aircraft safety records may be available on detail pages.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database