American Champion Scout vs Cessna 182
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
American Champion Scout
- For sale now
- 21
- Median asking
- $212,250
- Range
- $135,000–$308,500
- Model years available
- 1974–2026
Cessna 182
- For sale now
- 489
- Median asking
- $218,897
- Range
- $104,725–$564,768
- Model years available
- 1956–2026
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.
American Champion Scout — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
Cessna 182 — 4 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 182 Continental (early) | 1956–1976 | O-470-L/R | 2650 | 140 | 640 | 216 |
| 182 Continental (late) | 1977–1986 | O-470-U | 3100 | 142 | 700 | 86 |
| T182 Turbo | 1981–1986 | TIO-540-AK1A | 3100 | 158 | 970 | 50 |
| 182 Lycoming | 1997–now | IO-540-AB1A5 | 3100 | 145 | 930 | 165 |
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) | American Champion Scout | Cessna 182 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | — | 2779 |
| Serious | — | 249 |
| Fatal | — | 529 |
| Fatalities | — | 1000 |
| % Fatal | — | 19% |
Full Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all specs
| Spec / Model | American Champion Scout | Cessna 182 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $135,000 – $308,500 | $104,725 – $564,768 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 2 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 180 HP | 230–235 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 113 kts (209 km/h) | 140–158 kts (293 km/h) |
| Range | 938 nm (1,737 km) | 640–970 nm (1,796 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) | 18,100 ft (5,517 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,150 lbs (975 kg) | 2650–3,100 lbs (1,406 kg) |
| Useful Load | 800 lbs (363 kg) | 1,110 lbs (503 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | — | 92.0 gal (348 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 9.0 GPH (34 L/h) | 12.5 GPH (47 L/h) |
| TBO | — | 1,700 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | — | $32,000 |
| Annual Fixed | — | $20,000 |
| Hourly Variable | — | $160 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateAmerican Champion Scout
Fuel$50/hr
Cessna 182
Fuel$69/hr
Variable$160/hr
Annual Fixed$20,000/yr
Total (200 hrs/yr)
$52,000/yr
Which Should You Buy: American Champion Scout or Cessna 182?
Pick the Scout if…
- Longer range — 938 nm vs 640 nm.
Pick the 182 if…
- Budget matters — from $104,725 vs $135,000, you save ~$30,275.
- More seats — 4 vs 2.
- Faster cruise — 140 kts vs 113 kts.
- More inventory — 106 listings vs 2.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, American Champion Scout or Cessna 182?
It depends on your mission and budget.
The Scout cruises at 113 kts with 938 nm range.
The 182 cruises at 140 kts with 640 nm range.
Review the specs table above to find which fits your flying profile.
How do prices compare?
American Champion Scout: from $148,000.
Cessna 182: from $104,000.
Prices vary by year, hours, avionics, and condition. Always get a pre-buy inspection.
What's the difference between American Champion Scout and Cessna 182?
182 engine: CONTINENTAL O-470-R (230 hp).
Seats: 2 vs 4.
Cruise: 113 vs 140 kts.
Range: 938 vs 640 nm.
Which is cheaper to operate per hour?
182: about $160/hr variable cost.
Variable cost includes fuel, reserves and overhaul accruals. Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add to the total.
Which has more seats and useful load?
Scout: 2 seats / 800 lb useful load.
182: 4 seats / 1,110 lb useful load.
Useful load = max gross weight minus empty weight; it determines how much fuel plus payload you can carry.
How does maintenance compare — TBO and overhaul cost?
182: 1,700-hour TBO, overhaul ~$32,000.
Reaching the time-between-overhaul (TBO) triggers a mandatory engine/airframe rebuild that affects resale value.
Disclaimer: All prices and cost estimates are from third-party sources for informational purposes only. Always obtain professional appraisal and inspection before purchase.
Prices updated daily · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data