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  • CESSNA 172L

Comparison

AttributeCESSNA 172L
What it is
Seats4
Landing geartricycle
Engines1
EngineLycoming O-320-E2D
Horsepower150 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1971
Production end1972
Endorsements required—
Performance
Cruise speed114 KTAS
Range500 nm
Service ceiling13,100 ft
Climb rate645 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)41 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft1,525 ft
Landing over 50 ft1,250 ft
Load and fuel
Seats4
Useful load980 lb
Full-fuel payload752 lb
Max takeoff weight2,300 lb
Empty weight1,320 lb
Usable fuel38 gal
Fuel burn at cruise8.4 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$55,000
Price, high$175,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO2,000 h
Overhaul cost, low$28,000
Overhaul cost, high$40,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time1,352
Active fleet858
Median year built1971.0
NTSB events, last 10 years37
Fatal events, last 10 years4
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years143.12
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active226.81
Ownership transfers, last 24 months190
Transfers per 100 active322.14
Airworthiness directives6
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidenceok
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 3-4 seats
Accident record46.5 of 10
Severity55.5 of 10
Access68.2 of 10
Support78.8 of 10
Liquidity86.8 of 10
Overall (sum of the categories shown)935.8 out of 50
  1. Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 858 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 858 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 858 active.
  4. Accident record: class median 32.28 · 202 models in class.
  5. Severity: class median 12.5.
  6. Access: class median 775.
  7. Support: class median 147.5.
  8. Liquidity: class median 19.9.
  9. Each of the five categories places the model within its peer class, from 0 (the worst of the class) to 10 (the best): a position among comparable models, not a grade. The overall score is the sum of the categories shown that are scored, out of 10 for each (50 when all five are); it is given only when at least 4 of the five are scored, and it can be set against another model's only when both are in the same peer class and scored on the same categories.
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