Cessna 188 vs Piper Pawnee
The Piper Pawnee (PA-25) and Cessna 188 (AgWagon/AgTruck) are classic piston agricultural aircraft — both single-seat ag workhorses; the Pawnee is lighter and a favoured glider tug, the 188 offers more hopper capacity.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
No active listings right now.
- For sale now
- 4
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 2
- Source marketplaces
- 2
- Model years available
- 1963–1973
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Cessna 188 | Piper Pawnee |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 259 | — |
| Serious | 27 | — |
| Fatal | 25 | — |
| Fatalities | 24 | — |
| % Fatal | 10% | — |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 188 | Piper Pawnee |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $110,000 – $135,000 | $65,000 |
| Category | — | Agricultural |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 1 | — |
| Horsepower | 300 HP | — |
| Cruise Speed | 115 kts (213 km/h) | — |
| Range | 400 nm (741 km) | — |
| Max Gross Weight | 3,300 lbs (1,497 kg) | — |
| Useful Load | 2,000 lbs (907 kg) | — |
| TBO | 1,500 hrs | — |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | — |
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 188 or Piper Pawnee?
Bottom line: Choose the Cessna 188 for more hopper capacity and ag productivity. Choose the Pawnee for lighter, lower-cost ag work and its strong second career as a glider tug — selection comes down to capacity needs and intended role.
Pick the 188 if…
Pick the Pawnee if…
- Budget matters — from $65,000 vs $110,000, you save ~$45,000.
- More inventory — 5 listings vs 3.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.