Buying guide
Piper Seminole for sale: what to check before you buy
Published November 11, 2026.
The Piper Seminole, the PA-44-180, is one of the most common light twins in flight training. It was certified in 1978, so a "Seminole" can be a 45-year-old aircraft or a new one with a glass cockpit. Below is what the official EASA data sheet says about each generation, including a wing life limit that matters on school aircraft, what today's listings show, and what to check before an offer.
Three generations on one data sheet
The Seminole and the Turbo Seminole are on EASA data sheet IM.A.232. The serial number tells which engines the aircraft left the factory with.1
| Version | Serials | Engines (180 hp each) | Max. takeoff weight | Wing service life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA-44-180 Seminole, first series | 44-7995001 to 44-8195026 | Lycoming O-360-E1A6D and LO-360-E1A6D | 1,724 kg (3,800 lb) | 14,663 hours |
| PA-44-180 Seminole, later series | 4495001 to 4495013 and 4496001 on | Lycoming O-360-A1H6 and LO-360-A1H6; fuel-injected IO-360-B1G6 and LIO-360-B1G6 listed for serials 4496404 and 4496417 on | 1,724 kg (3,800 lb) | 14,663 hours |
| PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole | 44-8107001 to 44-8207020 | Lycoming TO-360-E1A6D and LTO-360-E1A6D, turbocharged | 1,780 kg (3,925 lb) | 16,462 hours |
According to the official data sheet, all versions carry one pilot and three passengers, hold 416 litres of aviation gasoline (408 usable) and are approved for VFR and IFR, day and night. The Turbo Seminole has a maximum operating altitude of 20,000 ft. The factory glass cockpits also follow the serial: Avidyne Entegra from 4496174 and 4496224 on, Garmin G1000 from 4496331 and 4496339 on.1
What today's listings show
On November 11, 2026, the PlaneFox aggregator, which collects listings from European and American portals and brokers, showed 7 Seminoles for sale. It is a small sample.2
| PlaneFox, 11/11/2026 | Listings | Asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Seminole, 1980 and 1981 | 2 | €62,000 and €129,950 |
| Turbo Seminole, 1981 | 2 | €179,000 and €198,000 |
| Seminole, 2012 to 2018 | 3 | US$495,000 (one listing) |
Two of the three recent aircraft are the ones on our own site, and the US$495,000 is the price of our 2014 Seminole. None of the 1980 and 1981 listings publishes total hours, which is the first figure to ask for on an aircraft with a wing life limit. Asking price is not selling price.
What to check on any Seminole
- The serial confirms the generation. Compare the serial number with the table above to know which engines and which cockpit the aircraft was built with.1 The routine for checking serial, registration and owner is in this post.
- Hours against the wing life limit. The data sheet sets the service life of the wing and associated structure at 14,663 hours on the Seminole and 16,462 hours on the Turbo Seminole.1 A school aircraft can fly several hundred hours a year, so ask for the total airframe hours and work out how many years of use are left.
- Each engine separately. The data sheet specifies a different engine model for the left and the right side.1 Ask for the hours since overhaul of each one, the date of the overhaul and who did it.
- Landing gear. This part is our reading. The Seminole has retractable gear and spends its life with students. Ask about any gear-up or hard landing and have the gear, its attachments and the propellers inspected with that history in mind.
- Imported aircraft with a glass cockpit. For aircraft imported into EU countries, the data sheet lists extra requirements, such as the altimeter setting displayed in hectopascals.1 On an aircraft coming from the United States, check that this has been done.
- Airworthiness directives. Check the directives for the airframe, engines and propellers, and compliance in the records.3
The Seminoles we have for sale
- 2014 Seminole: 3,167.7 hours, about a fifth of the wing life limit, engines with 1,167.7 hours since overhaul in 2019, propellers at zero hours, US$495,000.
- 2018 Seminole: Garmin G1000, listed with under 30 hours, price on request.
The serial number, registration and inspection status of each one are confirmed with the seller on request. If you are comparing with a diesel twin, see DA42 or DA62.
Sources
- EASA, type certificate data sheet IM.A.232, Piper PA-44, issue 06, Sept. 10, 2025: easa.europa.eu
- PlaneFox, Piper Seminole listings, accessed Nov. 11, 2026: planefox.com
- EASA, Safety Publications Tool (airworthiness directives): ad.easa.europa.eu