Cessna 152 vs Cessna 172
The Cessna 152 (two-seat trainer, ~95 kt) and Cessna 172 Skyhawk (four-seat trainer/touring, ~115 kt) are different-class trainers — the 152 is primary; the 172 is the universal four-seat trainer.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 59
- Median asking
- $70,000
- Range
- $45,545–$117,000
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 19
- Source marketplaces
- 11
- Model years available
- 1977–1983
- For sale now
- 421
- Median asking
- $134,231
- Range
- $61,563–$324,965
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 112
- Source marketplaces
- 19
- Model years available
- 1956–2028
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Generations Breakdown
Per-generation specs — engine/weight/performance differ materially across production eras.
Per-era “For sale” counts exclude listings with unspecified year and separate variants (RG retractable, Hawk XP), so they may not sum to the total above.
Cessna 152 — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
Cessna 172 — 5 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 Continental | 1956–1967 | Continental O-300 | 2300 | 118 | 520 | 107 |
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | Lycoming O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 105 |
| 172 O-320 160hp | 1977–1986 | Lycoming O-320-H2AD/D2J | 2400 | 122 | 585 | 89 |
| 172R | 1996–2007 | IO-360-L2A | 2450 | 120 | 520 | 19 |
| 172S | 1998–now | IO-360-L2A | 2550 | 124 | 518 | 40 |
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Cessna 152 | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 2435 | 6810 |
| Serious | 130 | 542 |
| Fatal | 255 | 960 |
| Fatalities | 386 | 1802 |
| % Fatal | 10% | 14% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 152 | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $45,545 – $117,000 | $61,563 – $324,965 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 2 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 110 HP | 145–180 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 100 kts (185 km/h) | 118–124 kts (230 km/h) |
| Range | 415 nm (769 km) | 518–585 nm (1,083 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 14,700 ft (4,481 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 1,670 lbs (758 kg) | 2300–2,550 lbs (1,157 kg) |
| Useful Load | 528 lbs (240 kg) | 878 lbs (398 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 26.0 gal (98 L) | 56.0 gal (212 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 6.1 GPH (23 L/h) | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,400 hrs | 1,400 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $22,000 | $30,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $15,000 | $18,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $100 | $130 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 152
Cessna 172
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 152 or Cessna 172?
Bottom line: Choose the 152 for primary two-seat training at the lowest operating cost. Step up to the 172 for real four-seat training/touring capability and the largest support network in aviation.
Pick the 152 if…
- Budget matters — from $45,545 vs $61,563, you save ~$16,018.
- Lower operating cost — ~$100/hr vs $130/hr.
- Newer design — production from 1977 vs 1956.
Pick the 172 if…
- More seats — 4 vs 2.
- Faster cruise — 118 kts vs 100 kts.
- Longer range — 518 nm vs 415 nm.
- More inventory — 428 listings vs 59.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.