Mooney 201 Aircraft 1980s
1980s piston singles are pre-FADEC, pre-glass-cockpit airframes — Cessna 172/182, Piper PA-28 series, Bonanza V35/F33, Mooney M20J 201 from this period. Most have undergone at least one engine overhaul and avionics refresh (ADS-B Out retrofit, GPS upgrade). Pre-buy focus: airframe corrosion, AD compliance (especially recent wing-spar ADs on 210/PA-28), Lycoming or Continental engine condition, panel revision currency.
The Mooney 201 (M20J) is the efficiency icon of general aviation — a 200 hp fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360 single famous for hitting 201 mph (175 knots) on modest power, which is how it earned its name. Introduced in 1977, the 201 transformed Mooney's reputation: clean aerodynamics, fuel injection and refined cowling made it one of the most fuel-efficient four-seat singles ever built. Cruise around 165-170 knots in real-world operation at fuel burns competitive with much slower aircraft, and a robust used market thanks to a long production run.
31 used Mooney 201 aircraft for sale 1980s · 4-seat · Used median asking $139,000 · Project from $139,900 · updated 4 hours ago
Mooney 201 Specifications
Model specThe Mooney 201 is a 4-seat single engine piston with a cruise speed of 161 kt (298 km/h), a range of 820 nm (1,519 km), and a useful load of 900 lbs (408 kg).
Mooney 201 for Sale
Browse all listings →Mooney 201 asking prices range from $58,022 to $224,900, with a median of $139,000 (market reference $135,000).
Compare Mooney 201
Detailed comparisons for the Mooney 201 are being prepared.
Browse all Mooney models →Mooney 201 Price & Cost
How much does a Mooney 201 cost? Used 201 prices: $58K – $224K, average $139K (median $139K); market reference $135K, across 48 priced of 31 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.
Buying a Used Mooney 201
Buying a Mooney 201 comes down to a focused pre-purchase checklist — here is what matters most on this model:
What to check before buying
Frequently Asked Questions — Mooney 201
How much does a 201 cost?
Why is it called the 201?
201 vs 231?
Is the 201 hard to fly?
Mooney 201 Inventory by Country
| United States | 11 |
| Australia | 1 |
| Canada | 1 |
Mooney 201 Inventory by State
| Texas | 10 |
| California | 9 |
| Florida | 3 |
| Illinois | 2 |
Mooney 201 by Price
| Under $100k | 5 |
| Under $200k | 45 |
| Under $300k | 49 |
| Under $500k | 49 |
Mooney 201 Safety Record
Across all 201 variants, 1 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 1989–1989. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.
1
Total Events
1
Incidents
0
Serious
0
Fatal
Most Recent Events
| Date | Location | Severity | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | CONCORD, CA | Incident | THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH AN OBJECT DURING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING IN VISUAL … |
NTSB records 1989–1989. Includes all Mooney 201 variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.