Cessna 120/140 Pre-Buy Checklist
Single Piston · 1946-1950 · 3,200 active
Purchase Price
$30K-$200K
Prebuy Items
—
ADs
—
Insurance
$1,915
per year (experienced)
Known Maintenance Issues
97 FAA Service Difficulty Reports (2015-2024)
Source: FAA Service Difficulty Reports (SDR). Higher counts may reflect fleet size.
Safety Record (NTSB)
Public incident data · 1982-2025
52
Total Incidents
52
Accidents
3
Fatal
16.3
Per 1K Fleet
Raw public data from NTSB. Not a safety grade. Compare with fleet size and hours flown.
Purchase Price by Year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cessna 120/140 cost?
Typical purchase price: $30K-$200K
What should I check before buying a Cessna 120/140?
Have a qualified A&P mechanic perform a thorough pre-buy inspection of the airframe, engine, avionics, and logbooks.
How much is insurance for a Cessna 120/140?
Experienced pilots: $1,915-$2,340/year.
Are there any known issues with the Cessna 120/140?
Check FAA airworthiness directives and type club resources for known issues.
Cost Summary
Engine
Disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes only. Always hire a qualified A&P mechanic for a professional pre-buy inspection. Data sourced from FAA records and industry benchmarks.