HangarMath

Cessna 421C Pre-Buy Checklist

Multi Piston · 498 active

Full Cost Data

Purchase Price

$30K-$200K

Prebuy Items

ADs

Insurance

$2,588

per year (experienced)

Known Maintenance Issues

35 FAA Service Difficulty Reports (2015-2024)

Hydraulics / Flight Controls
14
Control Systems
7
Landing Gear
5
Powerplant
5
Airframe
3

Source: FAA Service Difficulty Reports (SDR). Higher counts may reflect fleet size.

Safety Record (NTSB)

Public incident data · 1982-2025

34

Total Incidents

33

Accidents

19

Fatal

68.3

Per 1K Fleet

Raw public data from NTSB. Not a safety grade. Compare with fleet size and hours flown.

Purchase Price by Year

1970-1979
$17K-$33K
1980-1989
$22K-$42K
1990-1999
$30K-$58K
2000-2009
$42K-$82K
2010-2019
$66K-$128K
2020-present
$121K-$233K

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Cessna 421C cost?

Typical purchase price: $30K-$200K

What should I check before buying a Cessna 421C?

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 421C?

Experienced pilots: $2,588-$3,163/year.

Are there any known issues with the Cessna 421C?

Check FAA airworthiness directives and type club resources for known issues.

Cost Summary

Purchase$30K-$200K
Annual Fixed$10,388/yr
Hourly Variable$203.05/hr
5-Year Total$183K-$513K

Insurance Estimates

New PPL$3,623-$5,233
Experienced$2,588-$3,163

Engine

ModelCONT MOTOR GTSI0-520-F-K
Power435 HP
TBO2,000 hrs
Overhaul$104,400-$156,600

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.