Cessna 172N Pre-Buy Checklist
Single Piston · 3,099 active
Purchase Price
$30K-$200K
Prebuy Items
—
ADs
—
Insurance
$1,915
per year (experienced)
Known Maintenance Issues
65 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
223
Total Incidents
222
Accidents
38
Fatal
72.0
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 172N cost?
Typical purchase price: $30K-$200K
What should I check before buying a Cessna 172N?
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 172N?
Experienced pilots: $1,915-$2,340/year.
Are there any known issues with the Cessna 172N?
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.