Cessna 172G Aircraft in California

California's diverse terrain (coastal, high-desert, mountain) makes it a strong test market for high-performance and turbocharged aircraft. Significant GA infrastructure spans LA Basin, SF Bay Area, San Diego and Central Valley. Coastal flying demands attention to corrosion; mountain flying needs hot-and-high training.

← Cessna 172 family

The Cessna 172G (1966) is a mid-1960s Continental O-300-powered Skyhawk - a classic 145-hp four-seat single at the lowest entry price in the 172 family.

Cessna 172G aircraft for sale

3 used Cessna 172G aircraft for sale in California · 4-seat · Reference price ~$95,000 ($60,000–$150,000) · updated 17 hours ago

Cessna 172G Specifications

Model spec

The Cessna 172G is a 4-seat single engine piston with a cruise speed of 114–140 kt (211–259 km/h), a range of 518–720 nm (959–1,333 km), and a useful load of 850–1,010 lbs (386–458 kg).

Performance
Cruise114–140 kt (211–259 km/h)
Max Speed120–145 kt (222–269 km/h)
Range518–720 nm (959–1,333 km)
Service Ceiling13,000–17,000 ft (3,962–5,182 m)
Engine & Fuel
EngineCONTINENTAL O-300-D
Horsepower145–195 HP
Fuel Capacity36.0–66.0 gal (136–250 L)
Fuel Burn8.0–11.0 GPH (30–42 L/h)
TBO1,400–2,000 hrs
Weights & Seats
Seats4
Max Gross Weight2,300–2,650 lbs (1,043–1,202 kg)
Useful Load850–1,010 lbs (386–458 kg)
Production1966–1966

Cessna 172G for Sale

Cessna 172G asking prices range from $80,000 to $149,950, with a median of $105,000 (market reference $95,000).

1965 Cessna 172G

1965 Cessna 172G for sale within typical asking range
$80,000 ↓ -$10K
For Sale
Total Time 7,014
Reg# N6078R US
Location San Jose, CA
Via Jeff Soule

Cessna 172G

Cessna 172G for sale
$105,000
For Sale
Total Time 5,655
Reg# N1158F US
Location Newport Beach, CA
Via American Pride Aviation
Multiple sources
Listed 1mo ago

1966 Cessna 172G

1966 Cessna 172G for sale above typical asking range
$149,950
For Sale
Total Time 2,076
Reg# N5900R US
Location CA
Via American Aircraft Sales Co.
Multiple sources

Cessna 172G Variants

Variant Years Seats Cruise Range Useful load Price range Best for Listings for sale
172 1956–now 4 118 kts (219 km/h) 518 nm (959 km) 878 lbs (398 kg) $18K – $395K Choose the fixed-gear 172 for the most affordable, best-supported and easiest-to-insure four-seat single — the standard trainer and touring aircraft worldwide. Choose the 172RG Cutlass for retractable-gear speed and complex-aircraft time-building. Choose the R172 Hawk XP for extra power and useful load over the standard 172. 15
172K 1969–1971 4 115 kts (213 km/h) 580 nm (1,074 km) 850 lbs (386 kg) $62K – $204K Choose the 172K for an affordable early Lycoming Skyhawk with the clean O-320-E2D engine and the large 172 support network. 14
172L 1971–1972 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. 11
172M 1973–1976 4 122 kts (226 km/h) 580 nm (1,074 km) 900 lbs (408 kg) — Choose the 172M for a clean O-320-E2D Skyhawk without the 172N's early-engine AD complications, at lower cost than the youngest 172P. 3
172N 1976–1980 4 122 kts (226 km/h) 640 nm (1,185 km) 878 lbs (398 kg) — A late-1970s Skyhawk — a high-volume, low-cost four-seat trainer and tourer that is one of the most common used 172s. 1
R172 Hawk XP 1977–1983 4 129 kts (239 km/h) 569 nm (1,054 km) 1,010 lbs (458 kg) $93K – $255K Buy the R172 Hawk XP if you want a Skyhawk with real muscle — 195 hp for stronger climb, short-field and float performance than any standard 172. Consider a standard 172 for the lowest running cost and the deepest support network, or a 182 if you need four full seats with baggage. 26
172RG 1980–1985 4 140 kts (259 km/h) 720 nm (1,333 km) 950 lbs (431 kg) $55K – $222K Buy the 172RG Cutlass if you want an affordable complex single for the retractable and complex endorsement or for time-building. Consider a fixed-gear 172 if you want the lowest maintenance and insurance, or a 182 if straightforward cross-country hauling matters more than complex-aircraft experience. 28
172P 1981–1985 4 122 kts (226 km/h) 640 nm (1,185 km) 878 lbs (398 kg) $102K – $324K A common early-1980s Skyhawk — a low-cost, well-supported four-seat high-wing trainer and tourer. 15
172R 1996–2007 4 120 kts (222 km/h) 520 nm (963 km) 878 lbs (398 kg) $169K – $240K A modern fuel-injected Skyhawk — a four-seat high-wing trainer and tourer just below the 172S in the current-generation line. 10
172S 1998–now 4 124 kts (230 km/h) 518 nm (959 km) 878 lbs (398 kg) $207K – $539K The current-production, fuel-injected Skyhawk — the newest four-seat high-wing trainer to buy if you want a glass-panel, in-production 172. 25

Compare Cessna 172G

Detailed comparisons for the Cessna 172G are being prepared.

Browse all Cessna models →

Cessna 172G Price & Cost

How much does a Cessna 172G cost? Used 172G prices: $80K – $149K, average $111K (median $105K); market reference $95K, across 3 priced of 3 active listings.

Cessna 172G Price Guide

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 172G Cost of Ownership estimate
Fuel (8.0 GPH × $6.20, 100 hrs)$4,960/yr
Annual Fixed (hangar, insurance, annual)$18,000/yr
Variable (per hour)$130/hr
Engine Overhaul (every 1,800 hrs)$30,000
Estimates at 100 flight hours/year. Actual costs vary by usage, location and insurance.

The Continental O-300's overhaul cost and parts sourcing are the 172G's primary cost variable versus later Lycoming-powered 172s. Fuel burn at approximately 8.5 gph is consistent with the 172 family. Annual inspection costs are standard for a fixed-gear four-seat aircraft. As a 60-year-old airframe, budget initial acquisition reconditioning; after that, ongoing costs are minimal - fixed gear, no turbocharger, a proven Continental engine.

Cessna 172G 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.

$590K $389K $188K
$230K
$215K
$188K
$200K
$292K
$310K
$325K
$315K
$590K
’97
’99
’01
’06
’19

Lowest around $188,475 (1999 models) · highest around $589,500 (2019). Bars scaled across the range to show the depreciation curve; hover for exact medians.

Buying guides: Buyer's Guide | Financing Guide | Pre-Buy Inspection

Buying a Used Cessna 172G

Buying a Cessna 172G comes down to a focused pre-purchase checklist — here is what matters most on this model:

What to check before buying

The Cessna 172G (1966) is a mid-1960s four-seat, fixed-gear Skyhawk powered by the Continental O-300 (145 hp), producing approximately 114 knots cruise and 575 nm range. It belongs to the Continental-engined era of the 172 family, before Cessna transitioned to the Lycoming O-320 (150 hp) that defined later classic Skyhawks.

Continental O-300 era. The 172G uses the same O-300 engine family as the Cessna 170 taildragger that preceded the 172 - a well-proven but less common engine than the O-320/O-360 Lycomings in later 172s. At 145 hp it cruises around 114 knots versus the 150-hp O-320's 122 knots in the 172M. The O-300's parts network is narrower than the Lycoming O-320's, a practical consideration for buyers who prefer maximum parts availability.

172G versus later Skyhawks. Buyers comparing the 172G to a 172M, 172N, or 172P will note about 8 fewer knots of cruise, 5 hp less power, and a Continental rather than Lycoming engine. The 172G commands the lowest acquisition cost within the 172 family, appropriate to its age and engine generation. For buyers comfortable with O-300 maintenance who don't need the higher-powered Lycoming, it offers the same four-seat Skyhawk utility at minimum cost.

Buy it if you want the lowest-cost entry into the 172 family and find a specific 172G in good condition - understanding the O-300 engine's narrower support network compared to the Lycoming-powered later 172s.

Frequently Asked Questions — Cessna 172G

About the Cessna 172G
The Cessna 172G was produced approximately 1966, using the Continental O-300 (145 hp). It is a mid-sequence Continental-era Skyhawk — one step after the 172F and one before the 172H — with incremental model-year refinements in trim and detail. The Lycoming O-320 transition came at the 172I (1968). The 172G is a vintage aircraft; its letter marks a production year more than an engineering milestone.
What changed on the 172G from the 172F?
Model-year refinements — updates to interior trim, electrical-system details, and panel layout. The engine (Continental O-300), performance, and structural design are unchanged from the 172F. Between the 172E and 172H, the differences are in finish and detail rather than capability.
What to inspect on a used 172G?
Continental O-300 health (compression, magnetos, carburetor), seat rail AD, spar carry-through, rear window seals (omni-vision), and full logbook review. Nearly 60 years of age means corrosion in humid storage environments is a real risk. A pre-buy with a shop experienced in Continental-engine vintage Cessnas is recommended.
172G vs 172H — any meaningful difference?
The 172H (1967) uses the same Continental O-300 and is one model-year newer. Within the E-through-H Continental range, the differences are minor. Between the G and H, buy on aircraft condition rather than letter.
Is the 172G a good entry-level vintage buy?
Among the Continental-era Skyhawks, the 172G and its contemporaries offer Skyhawk capability at lower prices than the more numerous Lycoming-era 172M and 172N. The trade-off is age and the Continental O-300's narrower overhaul network versus the Lycoming O-320. For buyers comfortable with vintage aircraft and the Continental ecosystem, the 172G is a legitimate lower-cost Skyhawk entry point.

Cessna 172G Inventory by Country

United States18
Germany1

Cessna 172G by Price

Under $100k131
Under $200k360
Under $300k403
Under $500k420

Cessna 172G by Decade

1960s2

Recently Sold Cessna 172G

1965 172G$125,000

Cessna 172G Safety Record

Across all 172G variants, 141 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 1982–2025. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.

141

Total Events

79

Incidents

17

Serious

18

Fatal

Most Recent Events

Date Location Severity Probable Cause
Feb 15, 2025 Syracuse, NY Incident The truck driver’s to see and avoid the airplane, which resulted in a collision.
Jul 13, 2024 West Bend, WI Minor The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
May 30, 2024 Greensboro, NC Incident The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.
May 16, 2024 Lakeport, CA Incident —
Dec 17, 2023 Independence, OR Fatal (3) The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resul…

NTSB records 1982–2025. Includes all Cessna 172G variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.

Disclaimer: All prices, cost estimates, and market values shown are based on asking prices from third-party sources and are provided for informational purposes only. AeroGurus is not an appraiser, broker, or financial advisor. Always obtain a professional appraisal and independent inspection before making a purchase decision.
Listings last refreshed 17 hours ago · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data