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  • PIPER PA-28-161

Comparison

AttributePIPER PA-28-161
What it is
Seats4
Landing geartricycle
Engines1
EngineLycoming O-320-D3G
Horsepower160 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1977
Production endcurrent
Endorsements required—
Performance
Cruise speed117 KTAS
Range600 nm
Service ceiling13,000 ft
Climb rate710 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)44 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft1,490 ft
Landing over 50 ft1,115 ft
Load and fuel
Seats4
Useful load977 lb
Full-fuel payload689 lb
Max takeoff weight2,325 lb
Empty weight1,348 lb
Usable fuel48 gal
Fuel burn at cruise9 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$50,000
Price, high$300,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO2,000 h
Overhaul cost, low$28,000
Overhaul cost, high$40,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time3,170
Active fleet1,496
Median year built1979.0
NTSB events, last 10 years67
Fatal events, last 10 years11
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years144.79
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active217.38
Ownership transfers, last 24 months258
Transfers per 100 active317.25
Airworthiness directives12
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidenceok
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 3-4 seats
Accident record49.2 of 10
Severity54 of 10
Access69.3 of 10
Support710 of 10
Liquidity82.6 of 10
Overall (sum of the categories shown)935.1 out of 50
  1. Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 1,496 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 1,496 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 1,496 active.
  4. Accident record: class median 32.28 · 202 models in class.
  5. Severity: class median 12.5.
  6. Access: class median 775.
  7. Support: class median 147.5.
  8. Liquidity: class median 19.9.
  9. Each of the five categories places the model within its peer class, from 0 (the worst of the class) to 10 (the best): a position among comparable models, not a grade. The overall score is the sum of the categories shown that are scored, out of 10 for each (50 when all five are); it is given only when at least 4 of the five are scored, and it can be set against another model's only when both are in the same peer class and scored on the same categories.
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