Aircraft overview

The Piper PA-32 Lance is the retractable gear member of Piper’s PA-32 family, built as a six-seat, high performance piston single for private owners, business transport and serious cross-country use. The original PA-32R-300 Lance entered production in 1976, followed by the PA-32RT-300 Lance II with a T-tail and the PA-32RT-300T Turbo Lance II. Production of Lance named models was relatively short, ending in 1979 before the retractable PA-32 line continued under the Saratoga name. Its importance in the used market comes from combining a large cabin, meaningful payload and retractable gear performance in an aircraft that remains simpler than a light twin.

Performance & specifications

The standard Piper PA-32 Lance is powered by a 300 hp Lycoming IO-540 six-cylinder engine driving a constant speed propeller. Typical cruise figures are around 155 to 160 knots, depending on altitude, loading, rigging and engine management. Published maximum range is commonly in the 700 nautical mile class, with real trip planning usually allowing less after reserves and weather allowances. Useful load is one of the model’s key strengths, often around 1,500 lb or more depending on equipment and individual airframe history. The normally aspirated Lance has a service ceiling of about 15,000 feet, while Turbo Lance II versions were certificated for higher altitude operation.

Cabin & avionics

The Lance cabin seats up to six, with club-style middle and rear seating common, a wide cabin by single-engine standards and large doors that make passenger and baggage loading practical. Buyers should note that cabin condition varies widely, since many examples have been used for family travel, charter, club or owner flown business missions. Original aircraft were delivered with conventional analog instrumentation and period navigation and communication radios. On today’s market, typical upgrades include Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, Garmin G5 or GI 275 electronic instruments, Aspen displays, ADS-B equipment, engine monitors and modern audio panels. Factory Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective suites are not original to the Piper PA-32 Lance.

Buying & value

Pre-purchase evaluation should focus on engine time and condition, landing gear system health, corrosion checks, fuel system integrity, logbook continuity, useful load after modifications and compliance with applicable airworthiness directives. Particular attention should be paid to the stabilator or T-tail configuration, depending on variant, and to the quality of any avionics or interior refurbishment. The main variants are the straight-tail PA-32R-300 Lance, the T-tail PA-32RT-300 Lance II and the Turbo Lance II. In the used market, the Piper PA-32 Lance sits between fixed gear PA-32 models and later Saratoga retractables. Current PlaneFox listing data shows an average asking price of about EUR 168,000, with listed aircraft ranging from roughly EUR 112,000 to EUR 218,000.