Cessna 172S Aircraft in Idaho

← Cessna 172 family

The Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP is the current-production Skyhawk — a 180-hp fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360 (1998 onward), the most powerful standard 172 and the model most flight schools buy new, usually with a Garmin G1000 panel. The extra 20 hp over the older 160-hp Skyhawks adds useful load and climb while keeping the forgiving handling that made the 172 the default trainer. Against a cheaper used 172N/P the decision is modern avionics, lower airframe age and fuel-injection convenience versus price.

Cessna 172S aircraft for sale

· 4-seat · Used median asking $315,000 · updated recently

Cessna 172S Specifications

Model spec

The Cessna 172S 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
ICAO TypeC172
Weights & Seats
Seats4
Max Gross Weight2,300–2,650 lbs (1,043–1,202 kg)
Useful Load850–1,010 lbs (386–458 kg)
Production1998–present

Cessna 172S for Sale

Cessna 172S asking prices range from $207,000 to $539,000, with a median of $315,000.

No Cessna 172S currently listed for sale.

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

Cessna 172S 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
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

Compare Cessna 172S

See how the Cessna 172S stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.

⏲ Compare 172 vs 182 vs 206 →
Cessna 172S vs Cessna 182

Cessna 172S Price & Cost

How much does a Cessna 172S cost? Used 172S prices: $207K – $539K, average $315K (median $315K), across 25 priced of 0 active listings.

Cessna 172S 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 172S 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 172S's cost story is the fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360 — engine time since overhaul is the main value driver, and as the newest, highest-powered Skyhawk it carries modern-airplane prices and G1000 avionics currency. Otherwise it is the same cheap-to-support 172 ownership; condition and engine history decide value.

Cessna 172S 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 172S

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

What to check before buying

Buyers shopping the 172S are choosing between two configurations that trade on price, avionics, and age:

Steam-gauge 172S (1998–approximately 2004): Fuel injection and the IO-360 engine with conventional instruments. Lower acquisition cost than the G1000 variant; fully upgradeable to Garmin G5 or GTN. Good ownership economics; typically the right choice for budget-conscious buyers who plan to upgrade avionics selectively.

G1000 Skyhawk SP (approximately 2004+): Factory-integrated Garmin glass cockpit, IFR-certified from new. The premium over steam-gauge examples is real — budget for it at offer stage. Verify G1000 database subscription currency and GDU software version before purchase; these affect IFR legality.

Pre-purchase priorities: - Engine: Identify the Lycoming IO-360 variant, hours since overhaul, and whether the engine is original or factory remanufactured. Fuel injection system maintenance — injector nozzle condition, fuel divider inspection — is a 172S-specific item with no equivalent on carbureted models (IO-360-L2A TBO 2,000 hr). - Seat rail AD: Compliance mandatory on all 172 variants; verify logbook entries. - Logbooks: 172S aircraft are often ex-training fleet; continuous, gap-free records are especially important where cycles are high. - G1000 subscription: If buying a glass-cockpit example, navigation database currency is required for IFR; verify the annual cost and subscription status before closing.

Frequently Asked Questions — Cessna 172S

About the Cessna 172S Skyhawk
The Cessna 172S is the current-production Skyhawk — the definitive modern 172, produced from 1998 to the present by Textron Aviation. It uses a Lycoming IO-360-L2A (180 hp, fuel-injected), cruises approximately 124 kt, and is available with the Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpit. The 172S is the most capable fixed-gear four-seat Cessna piston in current production — modern wiring, fuel injection, full IFR panel options, and a factory warranty when purchased new.
What makes the 172S better than the 172R?
Twenty additional horsepower (180 vs 160 hp) — the result is an improved climb rate, a ~4-kt cruise advantage, better useful load, and slightly better hot-and-high performance. The 172S also introduced the G1000 avionics option that the 172R lacked. In practical terms: the 172S is the current-generation Skyhawk; the 172R is the transitional restart variant.
172S vs 172N or 172P — is the modern Skyhawk worth the premium?
The 172S is decades newer than the 172N/P, with fuel injection (no carb-ice risk), G1000 avionics eligibility, and full factory support. The 172N/P is carbureted, older, and without modern avionics infrastructure — but costs a fraction of a 172S. For training organisations or buyers who value modern avionics and fuel injection, the 172S premium is justified. For budget buyers comfortable with vintage maintenance, the 172N or P delivers the same basic mission.
What should I inspect on a used 172S?
The IO-360-L2A fuel injection system, G1000 annual database subscription currency (if equipped), seat rail AD compliance, and standard 172 pre-buy items. The 172S is a modern aircraft — maintenance risk is lower than older variants, and avionics condition (especially G1000 display health) is the primary variable.
Is the 172S the best 172 to buy?
For buyers who want the most modern, best-supported, and most insurable 172 — yes. The 172S is the current-production standard; its G1000 option, 180 hp, and fuel injection make it the definitive modern Skyhawk. The trade-off is acquisition cost: a new 172S is the most expensive Cessna piston single available, and a used 172S commands a premium over any pre-halt 172.

Cessna 172S Inventory by Country

United States34
South Korea2
Poland2
Canada1
China1
Estonia1

Cessna 172S by Price

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

Recently Sold Cessna 172S

1999 172S$295,000
2002 172S$205,000
2000 172S$319,730
2002 172S$304,258

Cessna 172S Safety Record

Across all 172S variants, 410 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 1999–2025. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.

410

Total Events

310

Incidents

16

Serious

45

Fatal

Most Recent Events

Date Location Severity Probable Cause
Nov 10, 2025 Lynchburg, VA Incident —
Nov 09, 2025 Lancaster, CA Incident —
Oct 04, 2025 Lathrop, CA Incident —
Aug 27, 2025 Los Banos, CA Fatal (1) —
Jul 30, 2025 Kissimmee, FL Incident —

NTSB records 1999–2025. Includes all Cessna 172S 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