Cessna 172 Aircraft 1970s
Pre-1980 piston singles are heritage airframes that have typically been rebuilt and refurbished multiple times — original avionics replaced with modern Garmin or Avidyne panels, engines on at least one mid-time overhaul cycle, interiors refreshed once or twice. Pre-buy focus: airframe corrosion (especially wing carry-through, tail, gear), AD compliance history, log-book continuity, engine cylinder borescope. Heritage value can be meaningful for original aircraft in restored condition.
164 used Cessna 172 aircraft for sale 1970s · 4-seat · $59K – $309K · updated 41 min ago
About the Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most successful aircraft ever built — more than 44,000 produced since 1956, more than any other aircraft in history. A four-seat, high-wing piston single, it is the world's default flight trainer and one of the most forgiving, well-supported aircraft in the air. Cruising around 122 knots on a Lycoming O-320 or O-360 engine, the 172 spans seven decades of variants — from 1950s straight-tail models through the long-running N/P models to the current fuel-injected Skyhawk SP with Garmin G1000. The 172RG Cutlass adds retractable gear for the complex endorsement.
Cessna 172 Specifications
Model specThe Cessna 172 is a 4-seat single engine piston with a cruise speed of 122 kt (226 km/h), a range of 640 nm (1,185 km), and a useful load of 878 lbs (398 kg).
164 Cessna 172 For Sale
Browse all 164 listings →There are currently 164 used Cessna 172 for sale, ranging from $59,819 to $309,900, with a median asking price of $139,747.
Cessna 172 Variants
| Variant | Years | Seats | Cruise | Range | Useful load | Price range | Best for | Listings for sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172L | 1968–1977 | 4 | 122 kts (226 km/h) | 640 nm (1,185 km) | 878 lbs (398 kg) | $79K – $179K | An early-1970s Skyhawk — an affordable, well-supported four-seat high-wing trainer and tourer. | 10 |
| 172N | 1976–1980 | 4 | 122 kts (226 km/h) | 640 nm (1,185 km) | 878 lbs (398 kg) | $64K – $259K | A late-1970s Skyhawk — a high-volume, low-cost four-seat trainer and tourer that is one of the most common used 172s. | 55 |
| 172P | 1977–1981 | 4 | 122 kts (226 km/h) | 640 nm (1,185 km) | 878 lbs (398 kg) | $85K – $324K | A common early-1980s Skyhawk — a low-cost, well-supported four-seat high-wing trainer and tourer. | 13 |
| 172R | 1996–2006 | 4 | 122 kts (226 km/h) | 640 nm (1,185 km) | 878 lbs (398 kg) | $169K – $299K | A modern fuel-injected Skyhawk — a four-seat high-wing trainer and tourer just below the 172S in the current-generation line. | 16 |
| 172RG Cutlass | 1980–1985 | 4 | 122 kts (226 km/h) | 640 nm (1,185 km) | 878 lbs (398 kg) | $55K – $225K | The retractable-gear Skyhawk — an affordable complex trainer and faster tourer for a buyer who wants 172 familiarity with retractable gear. | 25 |
| 172S | 1998–now | 4 | 122 kts (226 km/h) | 640 nm (1,185 km) | 878 lbs (398 kg) | $59K – $589K | The current-production, fuel-injected Skyhawk — the newest four-seat high-wing trainer to buy if you want a glass-panel, in-production 172. | 32 |
| R172 Hawk XP | — | — | — | — | — | $94K – $309K | — | 33 |
Compare Cessna 172
See how the Cessna 172 stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.
⏲ Compare Cessna 172 generations →Cessna 172 Price & Cost
How much does a Cessna 172 cost? Used 172 prices: $59K – $309K, average $148K (median $139K), across 126 priced of 164 active listings.
Based on 124 priced listings.
Key price factors: engine time to overhaul, year and airframe hours, avionics, damage history and logbook completeness — see the buying guide below for the full pre-purchase checklist.
Cessna 172 Value by Model Year
Median asking price by year of manufacture. Newer airframes command a premium; value falls with age then plateaus on older models.
Lowest around $218,475 (1999 models) · highest around $589,500 (2019). Bars scaled across the range to show the depreciation curve; hover for exact medians.
Buying a Used Cessna 172
Every Cessna 172 faces a mandatory 2,000-hour overhaul, so the single biggest factor in used price is how much time remains before that overhaul is due — a fresh-overhaul airframe can be worth a large share of the $30,000 overhaul cost more than one approaching its limit.
What to check before buying
- Time to overhaul — hours and years remaining to the 2,000-hour limit; this dominates resale value more than total time.
- Logbook completeness — continuous, gap-free maintenance records; missing logs cut value and complicate financing.
- Damage history — any prior accident, hard landing or blade strike; cross-check the registration against accident databases.
- Avionics — a glass panel vs steam gauges materially changes price.
- Pre-buy inspection — always commission an independent inspection by a type-experienced mechanic before money changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions — Cessna 172
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Cessna 172 Inventory by Country
| United States | 268 |
| Canada | 27 |
| Germany | 18 |
| United Kingdom | 11 |
| China | 7 |
| Poland | 6 |
Cessna 172 Inventory by State
| California | 37 |
| Florida | 27 |
| Texas | 19 |
| South Carolina | 11 |
| North Carolina | 10 |
| Kentucky | 10 |
| New York | 8 |
| Georgia | 7 |
| Colorado | 6 |
| Idaho | 6 |
| Pennsylvania | 6 |
| Maryland | 5 |
Cessna 172 by Price
| Under $100k | 93 |
| Under $200k | 255 |
| Under $300k | 294 |
| Under $500k | 308 |
Cessna 172 Safety Record
Across all 172 variants, 6810 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 1974–2026. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.
Most Recent Events
| Date | Location | Severity | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 08, 2026 | Mangalur, | Minor | — |
| Feb 05, 2026 | Nampa, ID | Incident | — |
| Feb 01, 2026 | Hollywood, FL | Incident | — |
| Jan 29, 2026 | New Castle, DE | Incident | — |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Lafayette, IN | Incident | — |
NTSB records 1974–2026. Includes all Cessna 172 variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.