Aircraft model
BEECH A23-19
Everything here is true of every aircraft of the type, not of any one aircraft.
The Musketeer Sport III is the entry-level member of the family: the same airframe with 150 hp and a simpler interior, sold as a two-plus-two trainer to flying clubs. It is the direct ancestor of the later Beech Sport 150.
It is the slowest and least capable Musketeer, at 110 knots with a service ceiling under 12,000 feet, and four adults is not realistic. What it offers is a roomy cabin, two doors, honest handling and a low price. The Lycoming O-320 is among the cheapest and most reliable engines in general aviation. As with every Musketeer derivative, Beech-specific airframe parts cost more than the Cessna or Piper equivalent, which is a real consideration on an aeroplane in this price bracket.
What it is
| Seats | 4 |
|---|---|
| Landing gear | tricycle |
| Engines | 1 |
| Engine | Lycoming O-320-E2C |
| Horsepower | 150 hp |
| Fuel | 100LL |
| Certification basis | CAR3 |
| Production start | 1966 |
| Production end | 1968 |
| Endorsements required | — |
Performance
| Cruise speed | 110 KTAS |
|---|---|
| Range | 600 nm |
| Service ceiling | 11,650 ft |
| Climb rate | 700 ft/min |
| Stall speed (Vso) | 53 KCAS |
| Takeoff over 50 ft | 1,955 ft |
| Landing over 50 ft | 1,400 ft |
Load and fuel
| Seats | 4 |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 920 lb |
| Full-fuel payload | 578 lb |
| Max takeoff weight | 2,250 lb |
| Empty weight | 1,330 lb |
| Usable fuel | 57 gal |
| Fuel burn at cruise | 8.4 gal/h |
Cost of ownership
| Price, low | $45,000 |
|---|---|
| Price, high | $80,000 |
| Prices as of | 2026 |
| Engine TBO | 2,000 h |
| Overhaul cost, low | $28,000 |
| Overhaul cost, high | $40,000 |
The fleet and its record
| Registered, all time | 236 |
|---|---|
| Active fleet | 72 |
| Median year built | 1966.0 |
| NTSB events, last 10 years | 1 |
| Fatal events, last 10 years | 0 |
| Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years | 13.89 per 1,000 active · base 72 active · thin base (low) |
| Personal-flying events per 1,000 active | 13.89 per 1,000 active · base 72 active · thin base (low) |
| Ownership transfers, last 24 months | 26 |
| Transfers per 100 active | 36.11 per 100 active · base 72 active · thin base (low) |
| Airworthiness directives | 0 |
| Directives, last 5 years | 0 |
| Rate confidence | low |
Peer scores
A score runs from 0 to 10 within the model's peer class: a position, not a grade, and the six are never added together.
| Peer class | Fixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 3-4 seats |
|---|---|
| Accident record | — · class median 28.36 · 202 models in class |
| Severity | — · class median 11.65 |
| Access | — · class median 767.75 |
| Support | 3.4 of 10 · class median 141.5 |
| Liquidity | 9.7 of 10 · class median 19.57 |