Ten-seat cabin-class commercial piston twin · Twin-engine piston aircraft · production 1977–1982 · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Cessna 404 Titan costs approximately $696k (€644k) to $832k (€770k) to buy at 1980 market values, and about $256k (€237k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $3,202 (€2,965) per flight hour all-in. It seats 10, cruises at 230 kt (265 mph) and has a published range of 1,700 nm (3,148 km), needing about 2,789 ft (850 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Titan is the unpressurised big Cessna twin, ten seats and a large flat cabin built for freight, commuter and survey work, and just under four hundred were made between 1976 and 1982. Where the mission is volume and short sectors on unglamorous routes, it still earns its keep. It is a commercial aeroplane in private hands. The geared Continentals demand disciplined power management and expensive overhauls, the fleet has flown hard in commercial service, and the Cessna Supplemental Inspection Documents apply to an airframe with the hours to make them bite. Buy it against a paying mission with the SID position confirmed, never as a large personal aeroplane.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 3,810 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 644 L |
| Maximum operating altitude | 30,000 ft |
| Engine | 2 x Teledyne Continental GTSIO-520-M, 375 hp each at 2235 propeller rpm |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 10 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 2,493 lb (1,131 kg) |
| Published planning range | 1,700 nm (3,148 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 1,139 nm (2,109 km) |
| Cruise speed | 230 kt (265 mph) |
| Runway need | ~2,789 ft (850 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $97k (€90k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $918 (€850) |
Excellent volume, payload and range for a piston twin, but two large engines and commercial fatigue make maintenance expensive.
Indicative cash costs at 1980 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $219k (€203k) | $5,486 (€5,080) | $1.85m (€1.72m) |
| 80 h / year | $256k (€237k) | $3,202 (€2,965) | $2.04m (€1.89m) |
| 120 h / year | $293k (€271k) | $2,441 (€2,260) | $2.22m (€2.06m) |
| 180 h / year | $348k (€322k) | $1,933 (€1,790) | $2.5m (€2.31m) |
Every figure above is built from a $97k (€90k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $918 (€850) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $183k (€169k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Cessna 404 Titan cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 1980 market price for a Cessna 404 Titan is $696k (€644k) to $832k (€770k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Cessna 404 Titan works out at roughly $256k (€237k) annually, which is about $3,202 (€2,965) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $918 (€850).
Published range is 1,700 nm (3,148 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 1139 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Cessna 404 Titan requires multi-engine rating and complex airplane endorsement. An airplane multi-engine land class rating. Insurers add their own minimum: multi-engine time, time in this make and model, and often a checkout with a named instructor before you fly it solo. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 2,789 ft (850 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.