How many Cessna 180As are registered in the US?

204, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Cessna 180A built?

From about 1956 to 1958. Half of those registered today were built by 1957.

What engine does the Cessna 180A have?

Most have the Continental O-470 (96% of those registered).

What are common problems with the Cessna 180A?

In 2 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were reciprocating engine cylinder section, nose/tail landing gear, and the part most often reported was a broken rocker.

How many accidents has the Cessna 180A had?

19 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 1 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna 180A have?

22 current ADs name the 180A airframe, 2 of them with a repeat action, and 20 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Cessna 180A

204 registered in the US, built from about 1956 to 1958, 4 seats, most with the Continental O-470. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 204
Built: 1956 to 1958
Half built by: 1957
Seats: 4
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental O-470

Engines installed

Continental O-470196 aircraft (96%) · 20 ADs, 2 with a repeat action

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

Airworthiness Directives

22 current ADs name the 180A airframe, 2 with a repeat action; 2 more were superseded. Its engines carry 20 more. 11 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.

Every AD for the Cessna 180A

What gets reported

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

Systems reported most

Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section1
Nose/Tail Landing Gear1

Parts reported most

Rocker, broken1
Tail wheel, faulty1

The latest reports

2026-05-12 · Nose/Tail Landing Gear · Tail wheel, faulty
Pilot reported progressively severe tailwheel shimmy during landing rollout, leading to loss of control and ground loop with significant damage to aircraft. post accident insp found the tailwheel spring had an existing crack from the tailwheel head mounting bolt to the point of torsional fracture, as evidenced by the dirt and corrosion in the crack. lack of adequate tailwheel system inspection and
2016-02-26 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section · Rocker, broken
While on a flight, acft at cruise, 4500 vmc, pilot felt a sudden power loss and a vibration. pilot landed and performed an inspection with a mechanic. once in the engine, they found a broken rocker arm. replaced same and returned the acft to service.

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

19 accidents since 2008, 1 fatal (1 person killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 0 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of control on ground8
Nose over/nose down2
Part(s) separation from AC1
System or component failure (not the engine)1
Runway excursion1
Loss of engine power (total)1

Phase of flight

Landing13
Takeoff2
Approach2
Initial climb2

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-08-30	Cordova, AK	Landing: Nose over/nose down	Minor	ANC26LA094
2026-05-03	Russellville, AR	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	ANC26LA036
2025-02-20	Waterville, WA	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	WPR25LA104
2024-08-17	Boise, ID	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	WPR24LA279
2024-04-04	Nordman, ID	Landing: Part(s) separation from AC	None	WPR24LA122
2023-07-05	Grand prairie, TX	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	CEN23LA275

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

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 (2 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 reciprocating engine cylinder section and for broken rockers: they are what gets reported most on this model.
11 equipment ADs name the 180A (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 180 family

Cessna 180 Skywagon · 1,167 Cessna 180H · 364 Cessna 180K · 271 Cessna 180J · 260 Cessna 180B · 94 Cessna 180C · 55 Cessna 180D · 50 Cessna 180F · 42 Cessna 180G · 40 Cessna 180E · 33

Questions

How many Cessna 180As are registered in the US?: 204, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Cessna 180A built?: From about 1956 to 1958. Half of those registered today were built by 1957.
What engine does the Cessna 180A have?: Most have the Continental O-470 (96% of those registered).
What are common problems with the Cessna 180A?: In 2 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were reciprocating engine cylinder section, nose/tail landing gear, and the part most often reported was a broken rocker.
How many accidents has the Cessna 180A had?: 19 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 1 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna 180A have?: 22 current ADs name the 180A airframe, 2 of them with a repeat action, and 20 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.