Cessna 172N 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.
✈ The 172N (1977–1980) used the Lycoming O-320-H2AD, which suffered a well-documented camshaft and hydraulic-lifter spalling problem (AD 80-04-03). Cessna replaced it with the more durable O-320-D2J in the following 172P. For a 172N buyer, the key check is whether the engine has been overhauled to address the AD or converted to the D2J — an unconverted early H2AD carries more risk at the same price.
The Cessna 172N is the late-1970s Skyhawk (1977-1980) — a 160-hp Lycoming O-320 four-seater from the high-production years and one of the most common used 172s on the market. It flies like any Skyhawk (~120-kt cruise, forgiving, cheap to run), so the buy decision is condition and engine history rather than capability: confirm which O-320 variant is fitted and its overhaul status, since some early O-320-H2AD engines had camshaft and lifter problems that drive cost. For a first airplane or trainer it remains one of the most supportable singles in aviation.
54 used Cessna 172N aircraft for sale 1970s · 4-seat · Used median asking $135,000 · updated 13 hours ago
Cessna 172N Specifications
Model specThe Cessna 172N 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 172N for Sale
Browse all listings →Cessna 172N asking prices range from $64,000 to $259,000, with a median of $135,000.
Cessna 172N 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 |
| 172G | 1966–1966 | 4 | 114 kts (211 km/h) | 575 nm (1,065 km) | 850 lbs (386 kg) | — | Choose the 172G for the lowest-cost entry into the Skyhawk family, accepting the O-300's narrower support for classic character. | 3 |
| 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 |
| 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 172N
Detailed comparisons for the Cessna 172N are being prepared.
Browse all Cessna models →Cessna 172N Price & Cost
How much does a Cessna 172N cost? Used 172N prices: $64K – $259K, average $137K (median $135K), across 45 priced of 54 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 172N's dominant ownership variable is the O-320-H2AD engine status - whether it has been overhauled to AD compliance or converted to the D2J. A properly addressed engine carries no ongoing AD burden beyond standard Lycoming O-320 inspection intervals. Otherwise the 172N is the most economical piston single in normal operation: around 8.6 gph, low insurance for a fixed-gear four-seater, and annual costs consistent with the broader 172 fleet. Avionics upgrades (GTN, EFIS) are the most common additional investment.
Cessna 172N 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 172N
Buying a Cessna 172N 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 172N
What makes the Cessna 172N different from other 172 models?
What are the common squawks on a used Cessna 172N?
How much does a Cessna 172N cost?
Is the Cessna 172N a good first airplane to own?
Cessna 172N Inventory by Country
| United States | 44 |
| Canada | 6 |
| Germany | 6 |
| United Kingdom | 4 |
| Australia | 1 |
| France | 1 |
Cessna 172N 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 172N by Price
| Under $100k | 132 |
| Under $200k | 361 |
| Under $300k | 404 |
| Under $500k | 421 |
Recently Sold Cessna 172N
| 1977 172N | $105,000 |
| 1979 172N | $71,000 |
| 1979 172N | $115,117 |
| 1977 172N | $119,900 |
| 1977 172N | $213,952 |
| 1979 172N | $78,811 |
Other Cessna Aircraft
| Cessna Citation III / VII | 26 |
| Cessna Citation II | 21 |
| Cessna Citation I | 12 |
| Cessna Caravan | 8 |
Cessna 172N Safety Record
Across all 172N variants, 1178 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.
1178
Total Events
709
Incidents
90
Serious
197
Fatal
Most Recent Events
| Date | Location | Severity | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13, 2025 | Serakseevo township, OF | Minor | — |
| Nov 25, 2025 | New Orleans, LA | Fatal (2) | — |
| Oct 07, 2025 | Petersburg, AK | Incident | — |
| Aug 08, 2025 | Ronan, MT | Incident | The student pilot's inadequate landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing. |
| Aug 05, 2025 | Pembroke Pines, FL | Incident | — |
NTSB records 1982–2025. Includes all Cessna 172N variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.