Cessna 320 vs Piper Aztec
The Cessna 320 Skyknight and Piper Aztec are 1960s light piston twins — the 320 is the faster, turbocharged Cessna; the Aztec is the rugged, roomy, load-hauling Piper workhorse.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 5
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 1
- Source marketplaces
- 2
- Model years available
- 1963–1967
- For sale now
- 30
- Median asking
- $152,000
- Range
- $52,467–$313,500
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 9
- Source marketplaces
- 8
- Model years available
- 1965–1979
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Generations Breakdown
Per-generation specs — engine/weight/performance differ materially across production eras.
Per-era “For sale” counts exclude listings with unspecified year and separate variants (RG retractable, Hawk XP), so they may not sum to the total above.
Cessna 320 — 2 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | Lycoming O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 105 |
| 172 O-320 160hp | 1977–1986 | Lycoming O-320-H2AD/D2J | 2400 | 122 | 585 | 89 |
Piper Aztec — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
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 320 | Piper Aztec |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 89 | 2 |
| Serious | 7 | 0 |
| Fatal | 34 | 0 |
| Fatalities | 81 | 0 |
| % Fatal | 38% | 0% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 320 | Piper Aztec |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $98,938 – $122,750 | $52,467 – $313,500 |
| Category | Multi Engine Piston | Multi Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Horsepower | 150–160 HP | — |
| Cruise Speed | 120–122 kts (226 km/h) | 149 kts (276 km/h) |
| Range | 900 nm (1,667 km) | 1,320 nm (2,445 km) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2300–2,400 lbs (1,089 kg) | 5,200 lbs (2,359 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,800 lbs (816 kg) | — |
| TBO | 1,500 hrs | — |
| Engines | 2 x | — |
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 320 or Piper Aztec?
Bottom line: Choose the Aztec for load-hauling ruggedness, a forgiving platform and strong support. Choose the 320 for higher cruise and turbocharged altitude performance, accepting a smaller fleet.
Pick the 320 if…
- Faster cruise — 200 kts vs 149 kts.
Pick the Aztec if…
- Budget matters — from $52,467 vs $98,938, you save ~$46,471.
- Longer range — 1320 nm vs 900 nm.
- More inventory — 30 listings vs 5.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.