Cessna · 1962–1962
Cessna 172C Skyhawk (1962)
iSpecifications
Cruise
114KTAS
Range
495nm
Seats
4
Useful Load
965lbs
Full-fuel payload
731lbs
Fuel Burn
7gph
Fuel Cap.
39gal
MPG
18.7mpg
Stall (Vs0)
43KIAS
T/O roll
865ft
Ldg roll
520ft
Power
145hp
Engine
piston single
Gear
Fixed
IFR
Yes
Category
certified
Pricing
Typical
$42k
Range
$25k – $63k
Annual all-in
~$12k/yr
All-in estimate at ~100 flying hours a year — fuel, annual inspection, engine reserve, insurance, and hangar. It scales with your actual hours, and insurance and hangar vary most by region and pilot.
Cost to own — estimate
Set your yearly hours and local fuel price. Fixed costs (insurance, hangar, annual inspection) don't change with hours; fuel and the engine reserve do.
- Fuel (7 gph)
- $4,550
- Engine reserve (toward overhaul)
- $1,556
- Fixed (insurance, hangar, annual, subscriptions)
- $5,894
- Total per year
- $12,000
- Per flight hour
- $120
- Miles flown / year (at cruise)
- 13,119 mi
- Cost per mile
- $0.91/mi
Estimate, not a quote — insurance and hangar (the fixed bucket) vary most by region and pilot. Anchored to our model figure at 100 hrs and $6.50/gal.
See how every Cessna 172 / Skyhawkyear stacks up — engines, changes, and which to buy — in our year-by-year buyer's guide.
Strengths
- Key-operated starter (1962 introduction; convenience over pull-handle)
- Six-way adjustable front seats for pilot/copilot comfort
- Proven Continental O-300-D engine with extensive support network
- Optional child seat capability (5th seat) if equipped
Weaknesses
- Cessna 200 autopilot (if installed) typically inoperative or unreliable; removal or replacement costly
- Mechanically identical to 172B; no performance or payload advantage despite newer year
- Six-way seat track design subject to historical ADs; locking pins require careful inspection
- Slight useful load reduction (~5 lbs) from additional hardware vs. earlier models
Overview
The 1962 Cessna 172C introduced the key-operated ignition starter -- a creature-comfort upgrade that finally eliminated the pull-starter handle on the dash. It also introduced an optional autopilot (Cessna 200 series), six-way adjustable front seats, and an optional rear child seat (5th seat) that increased apparent passenger capacity to five. About 889 172Cs were produced in the single 1962 model year.
Beyond the starter and interior tweaks, the 172C is mechanically identical to the 172B: Continental O-300-D, 2,250 lb gross, swept tail, fastback fuselage with small rear windows. From outside, only an expert can tell a 172B from a 172C. The 172C is therefore typically valued nearly identically to the 172B in the resale market, with a small premium for the key starter convenience.
Variants & History
| Feature | 172B (1961) | 172C (1962) | 172D (1963) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Pull starter | Key starter (new) | Key starter |
| Cessna 200 autopilot | N/A | Optional (new) | Optional |
| Front seats | Standard | 6-way adjustable (new) | 6-way adjustable |
| Rear seats | 2-place bench | 2-place bench + optional child seat | 2-place bench |
| Rear fuselage | Fastback | Fastback | Cut-down with Omni-Vision |
| Engine | Continental O-300-D | Continental O-300-D | Continental O-300-D |
Performance
Identical to 172B: 114 KTAS, 645 FPM climb, 7.0 GPH at 75% power. Slight empty weight increase (~5 lbs) from the autopilot/seat hardware, reducing useful load from 970 lbs to ~965 lbs -- inconsequential.
2006 Cessna 172S
G1000 Skyhawk · Mid-Time Engine · Clean Logs
Avionics Ecosystem
The 1962 model year introduced the Cessna 200 single-axis autopilot as a factory option. By modern standards it is rudimentary -- wing-leveler with limited heading-hold authority -- but it represents the first 172 available with any autopilot capability. Original 200 autopilots are rarely functional today; most surviving 172Cs have either had the autopilot removed or upgraded to a Garmin GFC 500 or similar modern system.
The 6-way adjustable seats and optional child seat reflect Cessna positioning the 172 as a family airplane rather than purely a trainer.
Maintenance & Support
Identical to 172B. See cessna-172b for engine details.
2005 Cessna 182T Skylane
G1000 Skylane · No Damage · Hangared
Valuation Factors
| Condition | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Project / needs engine | $20,000-$28,000 |
| Flying but tired | $28,000-$43,000 |
| Well-maintained | $42,000-$58,000 |
| Restored / upgraded | $55,000-$75,000 |
Effectively interchangeable with 172B on the open market. The key starter and adjustable seats are minor convenience features that don't meaningfully shift value.
ADs & Common Problems
Universal Cessna 172 pre-buy concerns apply (see cessna-172-history). 172C-specific:
- Original Cessna 200 autopilot: If present, expect it to be inoperative or unreliable. Plan to remove or upgrade. Removal is typically simple ($500-$1,500 labor); replacement with GFC 500 is $8,000-$12,000 installed.
- Six-way seat tracks: The 1962 seat track design has had ADs over the years (e.g., AD 2011-10-09 family). Inspect seat-rail locking pins carefully.
- Optional child seat: If present, the rear "5th seat" installation should match the type certificate -- some original installations were not properly documented.
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