Four-seat turbocharged high-altitude tourer · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 1979–1985 · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Mooney M20K 231 costs approximately $161k (€149k) to $192k (€178k) to buy at 1983 market values, and about $80k (€74k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $998 (€924) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 170 kt (196 mph) and has a published range of 1,000 nm (1,852 km), needing about 1,804 ft (550 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The M20K 231 adds turbocharging to the Mooney efficiency formula, letting owners climb into the mid-teens and cover long legs fast while still sipping fuel, a superb high-altitude single-pilot traveller. The reward comes with a demand, because the turbocharged Continental punishes poor temperature and mixture management, and cylinder and turbo health track directly with how disciplined previous owners were. A 231 flown by a careful, knowledgeable owner is a gem; one flown carelessly wears expensive parts. Its history matters as much as its logbook hours.
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 | 1,315 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 286 L |
| Baggage weight | 54 kg |
| Engine | Continental TSIO-360-GB or -LB turbocharged, 210 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 710 lb (322 kg) |
| Published planning range | 1,000 nm (1,852 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 670 nm (1,241 km) |
| Cruise speed | 170 kt (196 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,804 ft (550 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $24k (€22k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $211 (€195) |
Very efficient high-altitude speed, but turbo and cylinder management punish poor operating technique.
Indicative cash costs at 1983 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 | $71k (€66k) | $1,785 (€1,653) | $532k (€493k) |
| 80 h / year | $80k (€74k) | $998 (€924) | $574k (€532k) |
| 120 h / year | $88k (€82k) | $735 (€681) | $616k (€571k) |
| 180 h / year | $101k (€93k) | $560 (€519) | $679k (€629k) |
Every figure above is built from a $24k (€22k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $211 (€195) 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 $47k (€43k) 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.
Mooney M20K 231 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 1983 market price for a Mooney M20K 231 is $161k (€149k) to $192k (€178k). 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 Mooney M20K 231 works out at roughly $80k (€74k) annually, which is about $998 (€924) 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 $211 (€195).
Published range is 1,000 nm (1,852 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 670 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Mooney M20K 231 requires complex airplane endorsement. Retractable gear puts this aircraft in the complex class of 14 CFR 61.31(e), alongside flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller, which retractable types carry as a matter of course. It is a one-time instructor endorsement in your logbook, but the insurance condition behind it is the part that costs money: underwriters usually want a stated number of hours in retractable-gear aircraft before they will write the risk at standard rates. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 1,804 ft (550 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.