How many Cessna 182Ls are registered in the US?

406, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Cessna 182L built?

From about 1967 to 1968. Half of those registered today were built by 1968.

What engine does the Cessna 182L have?

Most have the Continental O-470 (99% of those registered).

What are common problems with the Cessna 182L?

In 5 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were reciprocating engine oil system, vacuum distribution system, power lever, and the part most often reported was a loose oil filter.

How many accidents has the Cessna 182L had?

15 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 4 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 182L have?

31 current ADs name the 182L 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 182L Skylane

406 registered in the US, built from about 1967 to 1968, 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: 406
Built: 1967 to 1968
Half built by: 1968
Seats: 4
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental O-470

Engines installed

Continental O-470400 aircraft (99%) · 20 ADs, 2 with a repeat action

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

Airworthiness Directives

31 current ADs name the 182L airframe, 2 with a repeat action; 2 more were superseded. Its engines carry 20 more. 10 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 182L

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

Reciprocating Engine Oil System2
Vacuum Distribution System1
Power Lever1
Elevator Structure1

Parts reported most

Oil filter, loose2
Pump, failed1
Screw, missing1
Tube, broken1

The latest reports

2022-01-16 · Power Lever · Screw, missing
Throttle cable port through fire wall outer sleeve lost lower screw allowing shield firewall grommet attachment part (s-352) housing of seal to wear into the cable almost 1/2 way into interior cable, causing interior cable to begin to bind. replaced cable with new and also replaced the grommet and properly secured with approved fasteners. just a warning for others to be on the look out for this.
2020-11-14 · Reciprocating Engine Oil System · Oil filter, loose
After a flight from central arkansas to southern missouri with overnight stay, while conducting a post flight inspection the pilot reported excessive oil on the aircraft belly and engine cowling. when questioned, the pilot reported that a post flight inspection was performed after landing in sourthern missouri with no indication of oil leaks. the aircraft remained overnight in missouri and was
2020-11-13 · Reciprocating Engine Oil System · Oil filter, loose
During scheduled oil change on a continental o-470-r recipricating engine the mechanic noted the tempest oil filter, part number aa48110-2, housing appeared to seperating from the base as indicated by a line of unpainted metal at the juncture of the base and housing. when the filter was removed the mechanic noted the housing began to turn before the base. removal of the filter was completed with
2018-10-26 · Vacuum Distribution System · Pump, failed
New vacuum pump failure 3p194-afc.

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

15 accidents since 2008, 4 fatal (7 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 4 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of engine power (total)3
Runway excursion2
Flight instrument failure1
Loss of engine power (partial)1
VFR encounter with IMC1
Nose over/nose down1

Phase of flight

Enroute5
Takeoff3
Landing3
Maneuvering2
Approach1

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2025-07-27	Tucson estates, AZ	Takeoff: Flight instrument failure	None	WPR25LA226
2025-04-13	Erie, NV	Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)	Minor	WPR25LA133
2021-12-04	Bonnerdale, AR	Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC	Fatal	CEN22FA058
2017-07-22	Arbuckle, CA	Takeoff: Runway excursion	None	WPR17LA160
2016-04-24	Carrollton, OH	Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined	Fatal	CEN16FA169
2015-03-10	Waycross, GA	Takeoff: Nose over/nose down	None	ERA15CA152

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 oil system and for loose oil filters: they are what gets reported most on this model.
10 equipment ADs name the 182L (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 182 family

Cessna 182P Skylane · 2,070 Cessna 182Q Skylane · 1,550 Cessna 182T Skylane · 1,292 Cessna 182A Skylane · 776 Cessna 182S Skylane · 603 Cessna 182R Skylane · 481 Cessna 182J Skylane · 479 Cessna 182 Skylane · 444 Cessna 182M Skylane · 428 Cessna 182H Skylane · 418 Cessna 182K Skylane · 411 Cessna 182B Skylane · 399 Cessna 182G Skylane · 387 Cessna 182E Skylane · 375 Cessna 182N Skylane · 332 Cessna 182F Skylane · 292

Questions

How many Cessna 182Ls are registered in the US?: 406, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Cessna 182L built?: From about 1967 to 1968. Half of those registered today were built by 1968.
What engine does the Cessna 182L have?: Most have the Continental O-470 (99% of those registered).
What are common problems with the Cessna 182L?: In 5 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were reciprocating engine oil system, vacuum distribution system, power lever, and the part most often reported was a loose oil filter.
How many accidents has the Cessna 182L had?: 15 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 4 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 182L have?: 31 current ADs name the 182L 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.