Beechcraft Baron G58 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx vs Piper M500 vs Piper M600 Sls vs Piper Seneca
The Beechcraft Baron G58 and Piper Seneca are twin‑engine pistons in the light‑aircraft category, generally suited to shorter cross‑country trips than the turboprops. They typically carry about four to six passengers plus a pilot depending on loading, with ranges commonly around 800–1,300 nautical miles; the Baron is often viewed as the higher‑performance, more premium twin, while the Seneca is a versatile, training‑and‑utility favorite. The Piper M500 and M600 SLS are pressurized single‑engine turboprops, stepping up in speed, altitude capability, and all‑weather utility. They are usually configured for about five to six passengers plus a pilot, with typical ranges roughly 1,000–1,500 nautical miles; the M600 SLS generally offers more power, useful load, and mission flexibility than the M500. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX sits in the larger, utility‑class single‑engine turboprop segment. It typically seats six to nine passengers plus one or two pilots depending on interior, and it tends to offer the longest range of this group, often around 1,500–1,800 nautical miles, along with superior cabin and payload capability.
| Spec | Beechcraft Baron G58 | Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Piper M500 | Piper M600 SLS | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 1.72 | $ 2.78 | $ 3.11 | $ 2.19 | $ 1.69 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Pilatus | Piper | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | Baron G58 | PC-12 NGX | M500 | M600 | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1480 | 1803 | 1000 | 1406 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.29 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.28 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1450 | — | 1698 | 2200 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 347 | $ 793 | $ 579 | $ 603 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Honeywell Primus Apex | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G3000 | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 202 | 290 | 260 | 274 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $1,495,000 | $5,350,000 | $2,122,600 | $3,081,400 | $1,095,000 |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | — | — | — |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | Optional | No | No | — |
| Min Crew | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 9 | — | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD | — | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.6 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | No | Refreshment Centre | Refreshment Centre | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 13100 | 12600 | 12600 | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID | MID | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8244 | 8644 | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Model | IO-550-C | PT6E-67XP | PT6A-42A | PT6A-42A | TSIO-360-RB |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | — | — | — | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 1700 | 5000 | 3600 | 3600 | 1800 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | — | — | — | — |
| Horsepower | 300 | 1200 | 500 | 600 | 220 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | — | — | — | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 194 | — | 170 | 260 | 122 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 35 | ISA + 55 | ISA + 55 | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | 402 | — | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 29.9 | 47.25 | 29.6 | 29.7 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 37.9 | 53.33 | 43.2 | 43.2 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.5 | 5 | 4.1 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 12.6 | 16.9 | 12.3 | 12.3 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.8 | 14 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 150 | — | 165 | 165 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 46 | 40 | 20 | 20 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 4.25 | — | — | — |