N55792 – Piper PA-28-180 Challenger – PARTner 91 Arizona Aircraft

1973 Piper PA-28-180
Challenger
N55792

Basic IFR,
Lots of Speed Mods,
No Damage History

$95,000 USD

The right balance of power and payload, combined with a basic IFR panel, and low hours on a no-damage airframe.

The Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee/Challenger is one of America's most popular aircraft due to its excellent flight characteristics, affordability, reliability, and robust design. No other aircraft, in its class, balances power and payload so well as the 4-seat, 180 horsepower Piper PA-28-180.

The "Challenger" name, as history has it, was only used by Piper in 1973, a key transition year for the PA-28-180. Piper took their previously successful 180 hp version of the Cherokee, added 5 inches to the fuselage, made a larger cabin and door, and lengthened the horizontal stabilizer, making a more comfortable and nicer to fly aircraft. The rumor is that Piper faced a challenge with an auto manufacturer who was already using the "Challenger" name, so in the following year, Piper renamed it the "Archer".

Challenger owners take pride in their PA-28-180, knowing that it's a unique piece of aviation history which is every bit an Archer, with its wonderful flight characteristics, obtainable on a reasonable budget.

This Piper Challenger, N55792, is a "no known damage history" aircraft with moderately low airframe and engine hours, a modest IFR panel, lots of speed mods, and complete logbooks dating back to its original airworthiness flight at the factory. Having lived in the Southwest U.S. (primarily Arizona) in the past several decades, and hangared most recently at Arizona's largest General Aviation airport, N55792 is an ideal aircraft for the pleasure flyer as well as for the up and coming new pilot wanting to build hours or work on an IFR rating.

Please carefully review the specs, the detailed high resolution image gallery, and the walkaround video below. A significant effort has been made to fully review logbooks and document the specifications and history of this aircraft. If you reach out to me, I can digitally share all logbooks and important documents.

General Specifications

Power (Lycoming O-360-A4A):	180 HP	Recommended Engine TBO:	2000 HRS
Service Ceiling:	14,150 FT	Fuel Capacity (useable):	48 GAL
Wingspan:	32.0 FT	Height:	7.8 FT
Takeoff Distance (ideal):	720 FT	Landing Distance (ideal):	635 FT
Optimum Cruise Speed:	141 MPH	Optimum Cruising Range:	686 NM
Rate of Climb:	725 FPM	Vso (Stall, Dirty):	61 MPH

These specifications were gathered from a variety of sources, including a POH, and are subject to buyer confirmation.

For your reference, click here for a sample POH (this is not the POH that belongs to this specific aircraft, though).

Numbers at a Glance

Born On (Airworthiness Cert):	21 May 1973
Factory Serial Number:	28-7305471
Flight Rules:	IFR
Total Time on Airframe (TTAF):	4551 hrs
Engine Since 2005 Lycon Overhaul (SMOH):	975 hrs
TBO (Lycoming O-360-A4A):	2000 hrs
Prop Time Since New (SNEW):	1825 hrs
Gross Weight:	2450 lbs
Empty Weight:	1464 lbs
Useful Load:	986 lbs
Next Annual Insp Due:	Nov 2026
Transponder (91.413) Due:	Jun 2026
Pitot/Static (91.411) Due:	Jun 2026

Hours are a close approximation and will change as aircraft is flown.

Summary

Aircraft hangared at Phoenix Deer Valley Municipal Airport (KDVT), 12 nm NNW of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (KPHX)
Hangared "Cherokee 180" (Challenger) with a great payload
No damage history
Full logbook review revealed no red flags, and a very mundane history (that's a good thing)
NTSB reports no accidents or incidents
Almost mid-time engine, with many hours remaining
Most recent annual: excellent compressions 76/77/78/77
2018 - new windshield and front side windows
All ADs C/W - AD Compliance Report is available
AD 20-24-05 spar corrosion inspection is satisfactory, next due May 2029
Logbooks are clean and complete, from day one, well organized, and available digitally upon request

Avionics and Equipment

Bendix/King KX-155 Nav/Com radio
Bendix/King KI-209 Glideslope Indicator
Garmin GNC250XL com radio and GPS (VFR only)
Appareo Stratus ESG ADS-B Transponder w/ internal WAAS GPS and ADS-B Out and In
King KMA20 Audio Panel
Horizon Digital Tach
Electronics Intl E-4 4-channel EGT system (INOP)
Electronics Intl Carb/OAT digital gauge
Sigtronics SPA400 Intercom
AstroTech LC-2 Timer Clock
Sensenich 76EM8S5 2-blade aluminum prop
Heated pitot tube
Knots2U aileron, flap, and stabilator gap seals (STC)
Knots2U wing root fairings (STC)
Knots2U flap hinge fairings (STC)
Met-Co Aire fiberglass wing tips (STC)
Wingtip strobe lights
LED beacon and landing lights
Pilot's side toe brakes (optional)
Primary electrical cables replaced with copper (STC)
Custom aircraft cover (included with purchase)

Aircraft Evaluation

As the broker, I make a significant effort to represent an aircraft in as much detail as possible. I share with you not only the benefits and features I've discovered, but also the issues or concerns that I found during my extensive intake and deep logbook review process. I present dozens of detailed, high resolution images, and an extensive walkaround video. Please review this material in detail. All logbooks and other important documents are professionally scanned, well organized, and available for your review.

My goal is that any Buyer making the effort to look at an aircraft in person can first see the aircraft "virtually" on this web page.

Exterior - Overall, the aluminum looks good on this PA-28-180. During the intake process, I noted no evidence of hangar rash or similar damage. It appears that there may be some light hail damage, evident just a bit on wing surfaces, but difficult to spot.

The Plexiglas, including the recently replaced windshield and front side windows, appear bright and haze-free.

The paint, rated 5/10, has reasonable depth, though this is inconsistent throughout the exterior. It looks like the upper cowling has been repainted. I believe that some cleaning/detailing attention would really make this aircraft shine! That's a great opportunity for a little sweat equity to make a really nice looking Challenger. Despite these factors, the paint has no significant cracking or chipping.

The Image Gallery (below) contains close-up, detailed, high resolution images so that you can get a better idea of the aircraft exterior condition.

Instrument Panel - This modest IFR panel, with a standard "6-pack" configuration, has been updated with a Garmin GPS (VFR only) and a Stratus ESG transponder with ADS-B Out and In. The ADS-B "In" is a fantastic way to wirelessly bring weather and traffic into your favorite EFB such as ForeFlight. The panel is clean, and has not been chopped up with remnants of removed equipment as is common in many of these aircraft.

Please refer to the "Avionics and Equipment" list above for complete details of all avionics, and to the Image Gallery below for close-up images.

Interior - The cloth seats are in reasonable condition - I did not see any rips or unusual wear for its age. The bolster/padding in the front right seat is broken down, as is common in these aircraft since it is the pathway to the pilot's seat. Side panels and headliner look to be in reasonable condition. The carpet looks like industrial grade short weave in good condition, but could use a professional cleaning.