Mooney M20C Aircraft
29 used Mooney M20C aircraft for sale · 4-seat · $39K – $139K · updated 3 hours ago
About the Mooney M20C
The Mooney M20C is the classic short-body Mooney — produced 1962-1978 as "Mark 21" (early) and "Ranger" (later), powered by the Lycoming O-360 piston engine (180 hp), cruising around 140 kt. The most affordable way into Mooney ownership: clean used examples typically trade in the low-to-mid $40-90K range. As an older airframe, condition, gear-truss inspection (Mooney AD 81-15-04) and corrosion checks are critical pre-purchase items.
Mooney M20C Specifications
Model specThe Mooney M20C is a 4-seat single engine piston.
29 Mooney M20C For Sale
Browse all 29 listings →There are currently 29 used Mooney M20C for sale, ranging from $39,900 to $139,500, with a median asking price of $79,096.
Compare Mooney M20C
Detailed comparisons for the Mooney M20C are being prepared.
Browse all Mooney models →Mooney M20C Price & Cost
How much does a Mooney M20C cost? Used M20C prices: $39K – $139K, average $84K (median $79K), across 26 priced of 29 active listings.
Based on 9 priced 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 M20C
Every Mooney M20C faces a mandatory 2,000-hour overhaul, so the single biggest factor in used price is how much time remains before that overhaul is due — a fresh-overhaul airframe can be worth a large share of the $22,000 overhaul cost more than one approaching its limit.
What to check before buying
- Time to overhaul — hours and years remaining to the 2,000-hour limit; this dominates resale value more than total time.
- Logbook completeness — continuous, gap-free maintenance records; missing logs cut value and complicate financing.
- Damage history — any prior accident, hard landing or blade strike; cross-check the registration against accident databases.
- Avionics — a glass panel vs steam gauges materially changes price.
- Pre-buy inspection — always commission an independent inspection by a type-experienced mechanic before money changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions — Mooney M20C
What are the common problems with the Mooney M20C?
Is the Mooney M20C expensive to maintain?
Why is the M20C considered the best value Mooney?
Mooney M20C Inventory by Country
| United States | 24 |
| Australia | 1 |
| Canada | 1 |
| Germany | 1 |
Mooney M20C Inventory by State
| California | 4 |
| Texas | 4 |
| Florida | 2 |
| Illinois | 2 |
| Louisiana | 2 |
Mooney M20C by Price
| Under $100k | 20 |
| Under $200k | 25 |
| Under $300k | 25 |
| Under $500k | 25 |
Mooney M20C Safety Record
Across all M20C variants, 215 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.
Most Recent Events
| Date | Location | Severity | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 07, 2025 | Watsonville, CA | Incident | The pilot’s decision to program avionics during taxi, resulting in an inadvertent throttle input and collision with a ha… |
| Nov 21, 2023 | Plano, TX | Fatal (1) | The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a climbing turn during a go-around, which resul… |
| Oct 22, 2023 | Morganton, NC | Incident | The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and an… |
| Jan 28, 2023 | Calhoun, GA | Serious | A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to an improperly installed spark plug. |
| Jul 27, 2022 | Farmington, MO | Incident | The collapse of the landing gear during landing for undetermined reasons. |
NTSB records 1982–2025. Includes all Mooney M20C variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.