Cessna 172 vs Cessna 206
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk and the Cessna 206 Stationair sit at opposite ends of Cessna's high-wing line — the 172 the four-seat trainer, the 206 the six-seat hauler — and the choice is economy versus carrying capacity. The Skyhawk is the most-produced aircraft ever, simple and cheap to run. The Stationair is the load-lifter: six seats, a big cargo door and the muscle to fill them. See what each costs today, and how many are listed, below.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · re-checked on a rolling daily cycle
- For sale now
- 421
- Median asking
- $134,231
- Range
- $61,563–$324,965
- Model years available
- 1956–2026
- For sale now
- 160
- Median asking
- $470,636
- Range
- $171,175–$898,750
- Model years available
- 1962–2026
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.
Cessna 172 — 3 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 Continental | 1956–1967 | O-300 | 2300 | 118 | 520 | 139 |
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 132 |
| 172 O-320 160hp | 1977–1986 | O-320-H2AD/D2J | 2400 | 122 | 585 | 104 |
Cessna 206 — 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 172 | Cessna 206 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 6810 | 292 |
| Serious | 542 | 23 |
| Fatal | 960 | 55 |
| Fatalities | 1802 | 147 |
| % Fatal | 14% | 19% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 172 | Cessna 206 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $61,563 – $324,965 | $171,175 – $898,750 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 6 |
| Horsepower | 145–160 HP | 300 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 118–122 kts (226 km/h) | 142 kts (263 km/h) |
| Range | 520–585 nm (1,083 km) | 840 nm (1,556 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) | 15,700 ft (4,785 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2300–2,400 lbs (1,089 kg) | 3,600 lbs (1,633 kg) |
| Useful Load | 878 lbs (398 kg) | 1,400 lbs (635 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 56.0 gal (212 L) | 92.0 gal (348 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) | 14.5 GPH (55 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,400 hrs | 2,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $18,000 | $22,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $130 | $175 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 172
Cessna 206
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 172 or Cessna 206?
Bottom line: Choose the 172 Skyhawk for economical four-seat flying — low running costs, gentle handling and support everywhere, ideal for training and lighter trips. Choose the 206 Stationair when you need to haul — six seats, a large cargo door and the payload for people and freight, at higher fuel and purchase cost. On safety both are forgiving high-wing Cessnas with strong records; the difference is size and payload, not safety. The Skyhawk is the economical four-seater; the Stationair is the six-seat hauler.
Pick the 172 if…
- Budget matters — from $61,563 vs $171,175, you save ~$109,612.
- Lower operating cost — ~$130/hr vs $175/hr.
- More inventory — 164 listings vs 10.
Pick the 206 if…
- More seats — 6 vs 4.
- Faster cruise — 142 kts vs 118 kts.
- Longer range — 840 nm vs 518 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1964 vs 1956.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.