Cessna 170 vs Cessna 172
The Cessna 170 and 172 are the classic Cessna high-wing singles — the 170 is the 1948-56 taildragger; the 172 Skyhawk is its tricycle-gear successor and the best-selling aircraft of all time.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 17
- Median asking
- $144,500
- Range
- $52,942–$244,775
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 5
- Source marketplaces
- 5
- Model years available
- 1948–1985
- 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 170 — 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 170 | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 728 | 6810 |
| Serious | 52 | 542 |
| Fatal | 56 | 960 |
| Fatalities | 98 | 1802 |
| % Fatal | 8% | 14% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 170 | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $52,942 – $244,775 | $61,563 – $324,965 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 145 HP | 145–180 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 105 kts (194 km/h) | 118–124 kts (230 km/h) |
| Range | 500 nm (926 km) | 518–585 nm (1,083 km) |
| Service Ceiling | — | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,200 lbs (998 kg) | 2300–2,550 lbs (1,157 kg) |
| Useful Load | 900 lbs (408 kg) | 878 lbs (398 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | — | 56.0 gal (212 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 9.0 GPH (34 L/h) | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,000 hrs | 1,400 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $18,000 | $18,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $130 | $130 |
| Engines | 1 x Reciprocating | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 170
Cessna 172
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 170 or Cessna 172?
Bottom line: Choose the 172 for the easiest handling, vast fleet and unmatched support — the default trainer/tourer. Choose the 170 for classic taildragger character and vintage appeal, accepting the conventional-gear handling and smaller fleet.
Pick the 170 if…
- Budget matters — from $52,942 vs $61,563, you save ~$8,621.
Pick the 172 if…
- Faster cruise — 118 kts vs 105 kts.
- Longer range — 518 nm vs 500 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1956 vs 1948.
- More inventory — 428 listings vs 18.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.