Six-seat turbocharged piston twin · Twin-engine piston aircraft · production 1997–2019 · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Piper Seneca V costs approximately $451k (€418k) to $539k (€499k) to buy at 2007 market values, and about $120k (€111k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $1,504 (€1,393) per flight hour all-in. It seats 6, cruises at 197 kt (227 mph) and has a published range of 828 nm (1,533 km), needing about 1,969 ft (600 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Seneca V is the end of a twenty-five year development: intercooled Continentals holding their full 220 horsepower to around 19,500 feet, a properly modern flight deck and the aerodynamic refinements introduced with the IV. It does everything the earlier Senecas do with more margin and much less fuss. It is also the expensive one. New Piper built it in modest numbers until 2019, so used prices sit far above a III of similar capability, and the intercooled installation adds plumbing and cost to an engine family that still wants careful power management. Buy it if you want the last and best of the line and will fly it enough to justify the premium over a III.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 2,155 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 604 kg |
| Usable fuel | 462 L |
| Landing distance | 520 m |
| Maximum operating altitude | 25,000 ft |
| Engine | 2 x Continental TSIO-360-RB turbocharged piston engines, 220 hp each |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 6 |
| Reported payload proxy | 595 lb (270 kg) |
| Reported range | 828 nm (1,533 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | Not used for mission ranking |
| Cruise speed | 197 kt (227 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,969 ft (600 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $54k (€50k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $562 (€520) |
Useful six-seat cabin and turbocharged redundancy, but full-fuel payload is limited and two ageing engines create major reserve exposure.
Indicative cash costs at 2007 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $98k (€91k) | $2,446 (€2,265) | $980k (€907k) |
| 80 h / year | $120k (€111k) | $1,504 (€1,393) | $1.09m (€1.01m) |
| 120 h / year | $143k (€132k) | $1,190 (€1,102) | $1.2m (€1.11m) |
| 180 h / year | $176k (€163k) | $980 (€908) | $1.37m (€1.27m) |
Every figure above is built from a $54k (€50k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $562 (€520) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $111k (€103k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Piper Seneca V cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2007 market price for a Piper Seneca V is $451k (€418k) to $539k (€499k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Piper Seneca V works out at roughly $120k (€111k) annually, which is about $1,504 (€1,393) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $562 (€520).
Reported range is 828 nm (1,533 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Piper Seneca V requires multi-engine rating and complex airplane endorsement. An airplane multi-engine land class rating. Insurers add their own minimum: multi-engine time, time in this make and model, and often a checkout with a named instructor before you fly it solo. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 1,969 ft (600 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.
Direct comparisons against the models buyers most often weigh against this one.
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