How many Cessna 150s are registered in the US?

373, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Cessna 150 built?

From about 1958 to 1972. Half of those registered today were built by 1959.

What engine does the Cessna 150 have?

Most have the Continental O-200 (94% of those registered).

What are common problems with the Cessna 150?

In 5 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were magneto/distributor, engine mount section, dc generating system, and the part most often reported was a failed magneto.

How many accidents has the Cessna 150 had?

228 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 51 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna 150 have?

20 current ADs name the 150 airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 8 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Cessna 150

373 registered in the US, built from about 1958 to 1972, 2 seats, most with the Continental O-200. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 373
Built: 1958 to 1972
Half built by: 1959
Seats: 2
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental O-200

Engines installed

Continental O-200349 aircraft (94%) · 8 ADs, 0 with a repeat action

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

20 current ADs name the 150 airframe, 1 with a repeat action; 3 more were superseded. Its engines carry 8 more. 13 equipment ADs name the model.

The ones that come back

ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.

2011-10-09Requires retaining all of the actions from the previous AD and adding steps to the inspection procedures in the previous ADStandard practices structures · AirplaneSupersedes 87-20-03 R2Repeat actionMay 13, 2011

Every AD for the Cessna 150

What gets reported

5 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.

Systems reported most

Magneto/Distributor1
Engine Mount Section1
DC Generating System1
Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section1
Miscellaneous Wiring1

Parts reported most

Magneto, failed1
Bolt, sheared1
Holder, deteriorated1
Retainer, broken1
Abs, battered1

The latest reports

2026-01-16 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section · Retainer, broken
On 1/16/26 at approx 2030z 2nm ne of the lake murray dam, on a flt from kcub - keoe at 2000' msl, engine began experiencing severe vibration & rpm loss. eng began sputtering & shut off. mixture was fully enriched & throttle moved to the full position, eng then began to sputter again & able to maintain 1500 rpm. the same cycle repeated. acft was able to make an emer landing at kcae. on disassembl
2025-11-17 · Magneto/Distributor · Magneto, failed
While reducing power on landing, eng ran very rough. after landing magneto check cause large drop in rpms on both mags. mechanics first repaired induction leak which did not solve mag drop. then they changed the carburetor which did not solve problem, then they sent both magnetos in for rebuilding. they changed a lot of parts in the mags and then plane ops satisfactorily. this dual magneto fai
2021-11-02 · Miscellaneous Wiring · Abs, battered
This is a test.
2018-02-28 · DC Generating System · Holder, deteriorated
Old fuse holders deteriorated so much they fall apart. suggest ad to replace with "button head" circuit breakers so as to be able to follow ac on exercising occasionally.

From the FAA's Service Difficulty Reporting System, refreshed monthly. Counts of what was reported, not failure rates: most of general aviation reports voluntarily, and a busy training fleet reports more than a private one.

Accident record

228 accidents since 2008, 51 fatal (74 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 21 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of engine power (total)28
Fuel exhaustion21
Loss of control on ground19
Loss of control in flight18
Loss of engine power (partial)13
Aerodynamic stall/spin10

Phase of flight

Enroute54
Landing48
Approach27
Initial climb27
Maneuvering25

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-08-19	Carlisle, PA	Landing: Midair collision	Fatal	ERA26FA309A
2026-08-17	Socorro, NM	Landing: Nose over/nose down	None	WPR26LA325
2026-08-08	Portimao, OF	Unknown: Unknown or undetermined	Fatal	GAA26WA278
2026-06-06	Kissimmee, FL	Takeoff: Fuel starvation	Serious	ERA26FA230
2026-04-12	Naples, FL	Approach: Fuel exhaustion	None	ERA26LA171
2026-04-06	Cambridgeshire, OF	Unknown: Unknown or undetermined		GAA26WA151

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Filled in for a Cessna 150 with the Continental O-200: a typical cruise fuel burn and the engine maker's published overhaul time. Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD (1 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
Ask the mechanic doing the pre-buy to look hard at the magneto/distributor and for failed magnetos: they are what gets reported most on this model.
13 equipment ADs name the 150 (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

The rest of the 150 family

Cessna 150L · 1,418 Cessna 150M · 1,408 Cessna 150F · 1,035 Cessna 150G · 953 Cessna 150H · 735 Cessna 150J · 642 Cessna 150K · 300 Cessna 150E · 293 Cessna 150D · 257 Cessna 150C · 163 Cessna 150A · 121 Cessna 150B · 110

Questions

How many Cessna 150s are registered in the US?: 373, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Cessna 150 built?: From about 1958 to 1972. Half of those registered today were built by 1959.
What engine does the Cessna 150 have?: Most have the Continental O-200 (94% of those registered).
What are common problems with the Cessna 150?: In 5 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were magneto/distributor, engine mount section, dc generating system, and the part most often reported was a failed magneto.
How many accidents has the Cessna 150 had?: 228 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 51 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna 150 have?: 20 current ADs name the 150 airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 8 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.