Cessna 172M Pre-Buy Checklist
Single Piston · 3,540 active
Purchase Price
$30K-$200K
Prebuy Items
—
ADs
—
Insurance
$1,915
per year (experienced)
Known Maintenance Issues
51 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
178
Total Incidents
177
Accidents
27
Fatal
50.3
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 172M cost?
Typical purchase price: $30K-$200K
What should I check before buying a Cessna 172M?
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 172M?
Experienced pilots: $1,915-$2,340/year.
Are there any known issues with the Cessna 172M?
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.