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Aircraft model

CESSNA 305

Everything here is true of every aircraft of the type, not of any one aircraft.

Compare CESSNA 305 with another model

What it is

Seats2
Landing geartaildragger
Engines1
EngineContinental O-470-11
Horsepower213 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basismilitary-surplus
Production start1950
Production end1959
Endorsements requiredhigh-performance;tailwheel

Performance

Cruise speed90 KTAS
Range450 nm
Service ceiling18,500 ft
Climb rate1,150 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)42 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft600 ft
Landing over 50 ft600 ft

Load and fuel

Seats2
Useful load786 lb
Full-fuel payload540 lb
Max takeoff weight2,400 lb
Empty weight1,614 lb
Usable fuel41 gal
Fuel burn at cruise11.9 gal/h

Cost of ownership

Price, low$120,000
Price, high$200,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO1,500 h
Overhaul cost, low$40,000
Overhaul cost, high$55,000

The fleet and its record

Registered, all time6
Active fleet4
Median year built1951.0
NTSB events, last 10 years1
Fatal events, last 10 years0
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years—
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active—
Ownership transfers, last 24 months0
Transfers per 100 active—
Airworthiness directives4
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidencenone

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 classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 1-2 seats
Accident record— · class median 37.5 · 181 models in class
Severity— · class median 10.44
Access0.3 of 10 · class median 1,045
Support2.2 of 10 · class median 72
Liquidity— · class median 20.59
Aircraft · public FAA and NTSB records; not an inspection