1974 CESSNA A185F SKYWAGON

1974 Cessna 185

Specifications

Year

1974

Total time (TTAF)

6,624 hrs

Engine time (SMOH)

167 hrs

Engine

Continental IO-520D

Damage history

None reported

Avionics & panel

• Garmin GPS 150XL
• Narco MK-12D Nav/Com
• Narco AT50A Transponder
• uAvionics Tail Beacon
• ADS-B Out
• King KMA 24 Audio Panel

Equipment list extracted from the seller's description. Verify with logbooks before purchase.

How this stacks up

• Listed 2 months ago

  On the market for a month or more — worth asking about negotiating room

• Price reduced $14,000

  Down 7% from the original $209,500 — a seller motivation signal

• No damage reported

  The listing reports no prior damage — the seller's description, not the logbooks, so confirm it at a pre-buy

• Engine has life left

  1,533 hrs to TBO (90% of the 1,700-hr Continental IO-520 interval remaining) — an overhaul is well down the road

• 4/5 key specs

  Most key specs are provided; verify any missing details with the seller

This summary draws on signals shown in detail below — price comps, listing age, maintenance and engine status, and key specs. Read each section for full context. Not an appraisal.

Engine Life

Based on 167 hrs since overhaul (SMOH) and the published 1,700 hr TBO for the Continental IO-520.

Airframe time

Average over the aircraft's life — 6,624 hrs total time across ~52 years. A rule of thumb, not a guarantee.

High utilization

This airframe has averaged about 127 hrs/year over ~52 years — more than most personal aircraft. Regular flying keeps engines and systems healthy, but it also adds cumulative wear, so review the maintenance history, component overhauls, and how the total time compares with the type's typical service life.

Damage history

Reported in the listing — confirm against the airframe and engine logbooks.

This listing reports no prior damage. That is a positive sign, but the flag reflects the seller’s description, not the logbooks — confirm it during a pre-buy. Undocumented or unrepaired damage is a classic red flag, so have an independent inspector review the airframe and engine records before you commit.

Price history

1. Price reduced· Sep 5, 2026$195,500−$14,000 (-7%)
2. Listed · Jul 1, 2026$209,500

Cost to own

Rule-of-thumb estimates — insurance ≈ 1% of price, hangar $7,500/yr, annual inspection $2,500/yr, fuel + oil at your selected hrs/yr. Engine reserve from the panel above is folded into the split. Your actual costs will vary.

At 100 hrs/yr, renting at $150/hr would be $10,602 cheaper annually — fly more to see ownership savings.

Buy-in is the asking price split evenly across partners — what you'd each pay to acquire the aircraft (the real figure is negotiated). Fixed costs (insurance, hangar, inspection, engine reserve) split equally by number of partners; fuel/oil is per-pilot since each partner flies their own hours.