Cessna 162 Skycatcher

Overview

The Cessna 162 Skycatcher is a two-seat, high-wing, strut-braced light-sport aircraft produced by Cessna from December 2009 to December 2013. It was Cessna’s attempt to capture the LSA training market with a factory-supported aircraft carrying the Cessna name and dealer network. The program attracted over 1,000 orders before the first delivery. Manufacturing in China drove costs up from the original $109,500 target to $149,000, and order cancellations followed. Cessna ultimately delivered 192 aircraft and scrapped the remaining 80 unsold examples in 2016. As of 2024, approximately 175 remain on the FAA registry, with Rainier Flight Service in Renton, Washington operating 22 of them.

Key Features for GA Buyers

• Garmin G300 glass panel: Standard equipment on every 162. A full glass cockpit at this price point was unusual at the time of production and remains a genuine differentiator against older trainers.
• LSA operating costs: The O-200-D burns 5.5 to 6 GPH at cruise. Annuals run $800 to $1,000 at operators familiar with the type, compared to $3,000 or more for a Cessna 172. The airframe is designed for easy inspection access: fuel lines, control cables, and connections are visible without removing panels.
• Modern airframe: All surviving examples were built between 2009 and 2013, giving a fleet age well below that of the C-150/152 fleet it was meant to replace. Engine hours are typically 400 to 800 on used examples.
• Gull-wing doors: The doors open out and up, and the aircraft is approved to taxi with doors fully open. The wing strut sits behind the door, so entry and exit do not require stepping over the main gear.
• Control stick: Replaces the traditional Cessna yoke. Pilots transitioning from 150/152 training find the controls light and responsive.

Trade-offs

• Useful load: At 342 lbs with 20 gallons usable fuel aboard (120 lbs), there is approximately 222 lbs for occupants and baggage. Two average adults with any baggage will be at or over the limit. This is not a full-fuel, two-person airplane for most pilots.
• Cessna abandoned the type: Factory support ended with production in 2013. Airframe parts are increasingly difficult to source; salvage yards are the practical answer for many components. ADS-B upgrades required the Garmin GDL 82 (the only Textron-approved solution), with total installation costs of $5,000 to $8,000 per owner reports.
• Fragile construction: Multiple industry reviewers cited construction quality as below expectations for a Cessna product. The aircraft was assembled in China, and quality control issues were documented during the production run.
• Restricted operations: Approved for day and night VFR only. LSA rules prohibit flight above 10,000 ft MSL (except within 2,000 ft of terrain) and impose a 120-knot Vh limit. These restrictions are intrinsic to the LSA category, not specific to the 162.
• Thin resale market: 175 registered examples in the US. Prices range from $40,000 to $70,000 depending on condition and ADS-B status. Liquidity is limited.

See Also

• Cessna 150 / 152: the aircraft the 162 was meant to replace; older airframes, simpler avionics, better parts availability
• Pipistrel Virus SW: a competing LSA with better useful load and fuel efficiency
• Flight Design CT: the market-leading LSA at the time of the 162’s production run