Cessna 172G Aircraft under $500,000
Under $500k for a piston single is the high-end price band — typically modern composite singles (Cirrus SR22/SR22T from mid-2000s+), late-model Bonanza or Mooney with full glass, low-time airframes with current engine status and full mandate compliance. Highest acquisition cost in piston class but lowest pre-buy discovery risk.
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.
17 used Cessna 172G aircraft for sale under $500,000 · 4-seat · Reference price ~$95,000 ($60,000–$150,000) · updated 17 hours ago
Cessna 172G Specifications
Model specThe 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).
Cessna 172G for Sale
Browse all listings →Cessna 172G asking prices range from $55,000 to $199,000, with a median of $91,000 (market reference $95,000).
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: $55K – $199K, average $102K (median $91K); market reference $95K, across 17 priced of 17 active 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.
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.
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 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
Frequently Asked Questions — Cessna 172G
About the Cessna 172G
What changed on the 172G from the 172F?
What to inspect on a used 172G?
172G vs 172H — any meaningful difference?
Is the 172G a good entry-level vintage buy?
Cessna 172G Inventory by Country
| United States | 18 |
| Germany | 1 |
Cessna 172G Inventory by State
| California | 54 |
| Florida | 34 |
| Texas | 20 |
| South Carolina | 18 |
| North Carolina | 14 |
| Kentucky | 12 |
| Colorado | 10 |
| New York | 10 |
| Georgia | 10 |
| Washington | 10 |
| Arizona | 9 |
| Idaho | 8 |
Cessna 172G by Price
| Under $100k | 131 |
| Under $200k | 360 |
| Under $300k | 403 |
| Under $500k | 420 |
Cessna 172G by Decade
| 1960s | 14 |
Recently Sold Cessna 172G
| 1965 172G | $125,000 |
Other Cessna Aircraft
| Cessna Citation III / VII | 26 |
| Cessna Citation II | 21 |
| Cessna Citation I | 12 |
| Cessna Caravan | 8 |
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.