Cessna 172R Aircraft in Kentucky

← Cessna 172 family

✈ The 172R marked Cessna's return to Skyhawk production in 1996 and was the first 172 with a factory fuel-injected engine — the Lycoming IO-360-L2A (160 hp) — replacing the carburetted O-320 of the classic line. Fuel injection removes carburettor-icing risk; the later 172S uses the same engine rated to 180 hp.

The Cessna 172R is a current-generation member of the 172 Skyhawk family — the fuel-injected model that reintroduced the Skyhawk to production in 1996, with a Lycoming IO-360 engine and a four-seat high-wing layout. It sits just below the higher-powered 172S in the modern Skyhawk line and shares the type's stable, forgiving handling and ubiquitous support. See the live price range and median above for the Cessna 172R listings currently on the market.

Cessna 172R aircraft for sale

· 4-seat · Used median asking $210,000 · updated recently

Cessna 172R Specifications

Model spec

The Cessna 172R 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
EngineLYCOMING IO-360-L2A
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)
Production1996–2007

Cessna 172R for Sale

Cessna 172R asking prices range from $169,950 to $240,000, with a median of $210,000.

No Cessna 172R currently listed for sale.

This page updates automatically the moment one is listed — check back soon, or browse the Cessna range.

Cessna 172R 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
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
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 172R

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Cessna 172R Price & Cost

How much does a Cessna 172R cost? Used 172R prices: $169K – $240K, average $210K (median $210K), across 10 priced of 0 active listings.

Cessna 172R 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 172R Cost of Ownership estimate
Fuel (8.5 GPH × $6.20, 100 hrs)$5,270/yr
Annual Fixed (hangar, insurance, annual)$18,000/yr
Variable (per hour)$130/hr
Engine Overhaul (every 2,000 hrs)$30,000
Estimates at 100 flight hours/year. Actual costs vary by usage, location and insurance.

The 172R's IO-360-L2A is derated, giving it a conservative operating environment and long TBO. Fuel costs at 8-8.5 gph are comparable to the classic O-320 Skyhawks. The modern airframe means fewer age-related corrosion and hose-replacement items than a 1970s classic 172, though the 172R is now entering the range where airframe maintenance items begin to appear. Annual inspection costs are consistent with the broader 172 fleet. The absence of a carburetor removes one maintenance and preflight item relative to the classic O-320 variants.

Cessna 172R 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 172R

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

What to check before buying

The Cessna 172R (1996-2012) marked Cessna's return to Skyhawk production after a decade-long halt - and brought the first factory fuel-injected engine to the 172 line. Powered by the Lycoming IO-360-L2A (160 hp), it cruises around 120-122 knots with a service ceiling near 13,500 feet, fuel injection replacing the carburetor of the classic O-320 Skyhawks. The IO-360-L2A runs derated at 160 hp (the same engine makes 180 hp in the 172S), giving a conservative power setting and long TBO.

Why fuel injection matters. The carburetor on the classic 172's O-320 carried carburetor-ice risk - a genuine weather-management item in moist, cold conditions. Fuel injection eliminates carburetor ice entirely. This is the 172R's single most operationally relevant difference from the O-320 Skyhawks, especially for IFR flying in IMC where icing encounters are more likely.

172R versus 172S. The 172S uses the same IO-360-L2A rated to 180 hp and became the dominant training and personal variant. The 172R is the lower-cost entry into the modern fuel-injected Skyhawk; the 172S commands a premium for its extra 20 horsepower. If climb and density-altitude performance matter, the 172S is worth the difference; for flat-country VFR or instrument currency, the 172R's 160 hp is sufficient.

Modern airframe. The 172R introduced the modern 172 airframe - wider cabin than the classic line and updated interior, with later aircraft carrying Garmin avionics. It lacks the full G1000 glass cockpit but is compatible with Garmin retrofits.

Buy it if you want the modern fuel-injected Skyhawk below the price of a 172S, and 160 hp suits your typical missions - it is an excellent instrument trainer and personal cross-country machine.

Frequently Asked Questions — Cessna 172R

About the Cessna 172R
The Cessna 172R was the first Skyhawk produced after Cessna's 1986–1996 single-engine piston production halt. It uses a Lycoming IO-360-L2A (160 hp, fuel-injected) — the first fuel-injected engine in the standard Skyhawk line, replacing the carbureted Lycoming O-320 of the pre-halt 172P. The 172R bridged the gap between the vintage 172 and the current 172S, introducing modern avionics wiring and airframe updates after the production gap.
What makes the 172R different from the pre-halt 172P?
Three key changes: fuel injection (eliminates carb-ice risk, improves cold starts), a modern airframe with updated wiring and panel accommodation, and the 160-hp IO-360 replacing the O-320. The 172R is closer in character to the 172S than to the 172P despite sharing the 160-hp output — it is a post-restart aircraft with a decade of regulatory and systems improvements over the pre-halt era.
172R vs 172S — which restart Skyhawk should I buy?
The 172S (1998–present) is the current-production Skyhawk with 180 hp; the 172R has 160 hp and is older depending on year. The 172S's 180 hp gives marginally better climb, speed (~124 kt vs ~120 kt), and useful load. For most buyers with a budget that reaches restart-era aircraft, the 172S is the more practical choice; the 172R offers restart-era quality at a meaningful price advantage.
What should I inspect on a used 172R?
The Lycoming IO-360-L2A fuel injection system (injectors, servo, flow divider), seat rail AD, and standard Cessna 172 pre-buy items. At roughly three decades old, the 172R is a mature modern aircraft — the primary variables are avionics condition, engine time, and logbook continuity, with less age-related risk than pre-halt 172s.
Is the 172R a good first aircraft?
Yes — fuel injection, a modern airframe, and Lycoming IO-360 reliability make the 172R an excellent first aircraft. The only practical argument for choosing the 172S over the 172R is the 20-hp advantage; for a typical training and touring mission, 160 hp is fully adequate.

Cessna 172R Inventory by Country

United States11
Asia4
Australia1
Canada1
Germany1
Mexico1

Cessna 172R by Price

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

Cessna 172R Safety Record

Across all 172R variants, 422 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 1982–2026. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.

422

Total Events

299

Incidents

21

Serious

64

Fatal

Most Recent Events

Date Location Severity Probable Cause
Feb 01, 2026 Hollywood, FL Incident —
Oct 28, 2025 Boca Raton, FL Incident The low-wing pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with another airplane while taxiing.
Aug 28, 2025 Ardmore, OK Incident The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
Apr 23, 2025 Louisburg, NC Incident —
Oct 06, 2024 Ejido de Treinta y Tres, Incident —

NTSB records 1982–2026. Includes all Cessna 172R 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 recently · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data