Aircraft model
CESSNA 305A
Everything here is true of every aircraft of the type, not of any one aircraft.
What it is
| Seats | 2 |
|---|---|
| Landing gear | taildragger |
| Engines | 1 |
| Engine | Continental O-470-11 |
| Horsepower | 213 hp |
| Fuel | 100LL |
| Certification basis | military-surplus |
| Production start | 1950 |
| Production end | 1959 |
| Endorsements required | high-performance;tailwheel |
Performance
| Cruise speed | 90 KTAS |
|---|---|
| Range | 450 nm |
| Service ceiling | 18,500 ft |
| Climb rate | 1,150 ft/min |
| Stall speed (Vso) | 42 KCAS |
| Takeoff over 50 ft | 600 ft |
| Landing over 50 ft | 600 ft |
Load and fuel
| Seats | 2 |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 786 lb |
| Full-fuel payload | 540 lb |
| Max takeoff weight | 2,400 lb |
| Empty weight | 1,614 lb |
| Usable fuel | 41 gal |
| Fuel burn at cruise | 11.9 gal/h |
Cost of ownership
| Price, low | $120,000 |
|---|---|
| Price, high | $190,000 |
| Prices as of | 2026 |
| Engine TBO | 1,500 h |
| Overhaul cost, low | $40,000 |
| Overhaul cost, high | $55,000 |
The fleet and its record
| Registered, all time | 258 |
|---|---|
| Active fleet | 166 |
| Median year built | 1951.0 |
| NTSB events, last 10 years | 16 |
| Fatal events, last 10 years | 0 |
| Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years | 96.39 per 1,000 active · base 166 active |
| Personal-flying events per 1,000 active | 84.34 per 1,000 active · base 166 active |
| Ownership transfers, last 24 months | 34 |
| Transfers per 100 active | 20.48 per 100 active · base 166 active |
| Airworthiness directives | 4 |
| Directives, last 5 years | 0 |
| Rate confidence | ok |
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, 1-2 seats |
|---|---|
| Accident record | 0.8 of 10 · class median 37.5 · 181 models in class |
| Severity | 8 of 10 · class median 10.44 |
| Access | 3.6 of 10 · class median 1,045 |
| Support | 7.7 of 10 · class median 72 |
| Liquidity | 4.9 of 10 · class median 20.59 |