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  • CESSNA 185

Comparison

AttributeCESSNA 185
What it is
Seats6
Landing geartaildragger
Engines1
EngineContinental IO-470-F
Horsepower260 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1961
Production end1962
Endorsements requiredhigh-performance;tailwheel
Performance
Cruise speed145 KTAS
Range600 nm
Service ceiling17,900 ft
Climb rate1,010 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)49 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft1,365 ft
Landing over 50 ft1,400 ft
Load and fuel
Seats6
Useful load1,680 lb
Full-fuel payload1,314 lb
Max takeoff weight3,200 lb
Empty weight1,520 lb
Usable fuel61 gal
Fuel burn at cruise14.6 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$150,000
Price, high$265,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO1,500 h
Overhaul cost, low$42,000
Overhaul cost, high$58,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time227
Active fleet98
Median year built1961.0
NTSB events, last 10 years7
Fatal events, last 10 years0
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years171.43 · thin base (low)
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active261.22 · thin base (low)
Ownership transfers, last 24 months6
Transfers per 100 active36.12 · thin base (low)
Airworthiness directives7
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidencelow
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 5-6 seats
Accident record43.4 of 10 · scored on 21 years of events (fewer than 10 in the last 10)
Severity58.8 of 10 · scored on 21 years of events (fewer than 10 in the last 10)
Access64.7 of 10
Support75.1 of 10
Liquidity80.1 of 10
Overall (sum of the categories shown)922.1 out of 50
  1. Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 98 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 98 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 98 active.
  4. Accident record: class median 38.47 · 74 models in class.
  5. Severity: class median 16.67.
  6. Access: class median 1,823.
  7. Support: class median 96.
  8. Liquidity: class median 17.67.
  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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