Cessna 152 Pre-Buy Checklist

Single Piston · 1,616 active

Full Cost Data

Purchase Price

$30K-$200K

Prebuy Items

ADs

Insurance

$1,915

per year (experienced)

Known Maintenance Issues

65 FAA Service Difficulty Reports (2015-2024)

Hydraulics / Flight Controls
27
System Z
14
Landing Gear
8
System W
6
Control Systems
4

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

Safety Record (NTSB)

Public incident data · 1982-2025

288

Total Incidents

281

Accidents

42

Fatal

178.2

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
$19K-$37K
1980-1989
$27K-$51K
1990-1999
$39K-$75K
2000-2009
$54K-$105K
2010-2019
$78K-$151K
2020-present
$121K-$233K

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Cessna 152 cost?

Typical purchase price: $30K-$200K

What should I check before buying a Cessna 152?

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 152?

Experienced pilots: $1,915-$2,340/year.

Are there any known issues with the Cessna 152?

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

Cost Summary

Purchase$30K-$200K
Annual Fixed$5,515/yr
Hourly Variable$46.40/hr
5-Year Total$81K-$312K

Insurance Estimates

New PPL$2,588-$3,738
Experienced$1,915-$2,340

Engine

ModelLYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
Power115 HP
TBO2,400 hrs
Overhaul$20,000-$28,000

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.