The Cessna 172 POH (Pilot’s Operating Handbook) holds a Skyhawk’s limitations, checklists, performance charts and weight and balance data, and for 172s from the 1979 model year on it is also the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual that must be in the airplane. The manual you need is the one that matches your airplane’s model, serial number and installed equipment. A Pilot’s Information Manual or factory reprint is excellent for study, but it does not replace the airplane’s own approved handbook.
Part of our Cessna 172 guide. For how POHs work on any airplane, see our POH guide.
POH, Pilot’s Information Manual or AFM?
Chapter 9 of the FAA’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) draws the lines. An Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) is written by the manufacturer, approved by the FAA, and specific to a make and model, usually by serial number. A POH is the manufacturer’s handbook that contains the FAA-approved AFM material; when “POH” is in the title, the title page must say which sections are FAA approved as the AFM. An owner’s or information manual, which Cessna calls a Pilot’s Information Manual, gives general information about the model but is not FAA approved, is not specific to one airplane, is not kept current, and cannot be substituted for the AFM or POH.
| Document | FAA approved? | Tied to one airplane? | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| POH and FAA Approved AFM with your airplane’s serial number on the title page | Yes (approved sections) | Yes | Flying. This copy stays in the airplane. |
| Pilot’s Information Manual or factory reprint | No | No | Study, planning practice and the oral exam |
| Owner’s Manual (older 172s) | No | No | Study; the approved limits come from placards, markings and approved manual material |
The PHAK adds a simple test: manufacturers are required to put the airplane’s serial number and registration on the POH title page, and a manual without them is limited to general study. The Cessna reprints sold for study, including the ones below, contain the same data and limitations as the original handbook, but they are not tied to a serial number and are not FAA-approved replacements.
What must be in the airplane
Under 14 CFR 91.9, you must comply with the operating limitations in the approved flight manual, markings and placards. When 14 CFR 21.5 requires an AFM, which it does for airplanes that had no flight time before March 1, 1979, a current, approved AFM must be available in the airplane. The Cessna 172 type certificate data sheet (TCDS 3A12) makes a current AFM part of the required equipment from serial number 17271035, the first 1979-model 172N, onward. Older Skyhawks must carry an approved AFM, approved manual material, markings and placards, or a combination of them.
A current handbook carries Cessna’s approved revisions, and Section 9 must hold the supplements for the equipment actually installed. This is the O (operating limitations) in the ARROW list of required documents.
How to tell which 172 manual matches your airplane
- Find the model and serial number. They are on the airplane’s data plate and on its airworthiness certificate, which lists the serial number as it appears on the data plate. The FAA Aircraft Registry’s N-number search also shows the serial number, model and year of manufacture, although the registry cautions that its information should not be used to determine airworthiness.
- Match the serial number, not just the year. TCDS 3A12 lists which serial numbers belong to each model year and, for the 172N and most 172Ps, the Cessna part number of the handbook for each range (table below).
- Match the equipment. For the 172R and 172S, the data sheet lists separate FAA-approved handbooks for the standard airplane, for airplanes with the Garmin G1000, for the G1000 with the GFC 700 autopilot, and, on the 172S, for the G1000 NXi. A 172R converted to 180 horsepower with Cessna’s modification kit uses its own handbook (P/N 172R180PH00), and only 51 specific 172R serial numbers are eligible for that kit.
- Check the supplements. Section 9 holds supplements for optional equipment such as autopilots and navigation systems, inserted when the equipment is installed. A study reprint will not include the supplements for your airplane’s particular avionics.
| Model year | Serial numbers (TCDS 3A12) | Cessna handbook part number |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 172N | 17261445, 17267585 to 17269309 | D1082-13 |
| 1978 172N | 17261578, 17269310 to 17271034 (except 17270050) | D1109-13 |
| 1979 172N | 17271035 to 17272884 | D1138-13PH |
| 1980 172N | 17270050, 17272885 to 17274009 | D1172-13PH |
| 1981 172P | 17274010 to 17275034 | D1192-13PH |
| 1982 172P | 17275035 to 17275759 | D1212-13PH |
| 1983 172P | 17275760 to 17276079 | D1231-13PH |
| 1984 172P | 17276080 to 17276259 | D1251-13PH |
The limits really do change between these airplanes. The data sheet gives the 172N a maximum weight of 2,300 pounds and the 172P 2,400 pounds, and a 1980 172N has a never-exceed speed of 158 knots CAS where a 1979 model has 160. A standard 172R is limited to 2,450 pounds with a maneuvering speed of 99 knots indicated, while the 180-horsepower kit raises those to 2,550 pounds and 105 knots. Plan from the wrong book and you plan with the wrong numbers; our Cessna 172 V-speeds page lays them out by model.
What’s inside, section by section
The PHAK describes the standard numbered POH layout set by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and the 172’s data sheet itself points to Section 2 for required placards and Section 5 for airspeed calibration data. Here is how students use each part.
| Section | What it holds | How you use it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 General | Dimensions, definitions and abbreviations | Learn the vocabulary, including the V-speed symbols |
| 2 Limitations | Airspeed limits and instrument markings, powerplant limits, weights and center of gravity range, approved maneuvers, placards | Memorize the numbers you will be tested on |
| 3 Emergency Procedures | Abbreviated checklists in the order of action, then amplified procedures | Memorize the immediate action items |
| 4 Normal Procedures | Airspeeds for normal operations, checklists, amplified procedures | The source for every normal checklist (see our 172 checklist guide) |
| 5 Performance | Airspeed calibration, stall speeds, takeoff, climb, cruise and landing data | Preflight planning |
| 6 Weight and Balance and Equipment List | Loading data and sample problems | Weight and balance before every flight |
| 7 Systems Description | How the engine, fuel, electrical and pitot-static systems work | Oral exam preparation |
| 8 Handling, Service and Maintenance | Ground handling, servicing and preventive maintenance by pilots | Fueling, oil and tie-down questions |
| 9 Supplements | Optional equipment such as autopilots and navigation systems | Required reading for your airplane’s avionics |
Using the performance charts
The PHAK notes that every chart is based on stated conditions and carries notes on adapting it to yours, so read the notes and the manufacturer’s example before you trust a number. A typical sequence:
- Work out pressure altitude and density altitude for the departure airport.
- Enter the takeoff and landing tables with pressure altitude, temperature and weight, then apply the wind and runway notes. When a value falls between rows, interpolate or round to the more conservative figure. Our takeoff and landing performance guide walks through it.
- Choose a cruise altitude and power setting from the cruise table, which gives power, fuel flow and airspeed, and cross-check with our true airspeed calculator.
- Run the loading on our weight and balance calculator, which comes loaded with a 1978 172N example. Replace those numbers with your airplane’s own empty weight and moment.
Treat the results as best case. The PHAK explains that chart data comes from test flights in a new airplane flown with average piloting skill, and it tells pilots to allow for an airplane that is not in good working order or piloting that is below average. For extra practice, the PHAK appendix includes a set of Cessna 172R performance charts. The private pilot ACS expects you to use the performance charts and compute weight and balance yourself; our checkride guide covers the test.
Buying a study copy
Match the model and model year on the cover to your airplane’s serial range from the table above. PilotMall’s Cessna 172 manuals collection lists Cessna reprints by model and year, including separate 172R manuals for the standard airplane and the 180-horsepower version, so read the title before you order.
What you'll need
Cessna factory reprints for study, not FAA-approved replacements; match the model and model year to your airplane.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a Cessna 172 POH?
The FAA-approved POH that belongs to the airplane stays in the airplane, so ask the owner or flight school if you can study it there. For home study, buy a Cessna factory reprint or Pilot’s Information Manual that matches your model and model year. It has the same data and limitations, but it is not tied to your serial number and is not an FAA-approved replacement.
Is a Pilot’s Information Manual the same as a POH?
No. A Pilot’s Information Manual gives the same general information for the model, but the FAA says an information manual is not FAA approved, is not specific to one airplane, is not kept current and cannot be substituted for the AFM or POH. Study from it, and fly with the airplane’s own approved handbook.
Does the POH have to be in the airplane?
For Cessna 172s from the 1979 model year on, yes. 14 CFR 91.9 requires a current, approved Airplane Flight Manual in the airplane when 14 CFR 21.5 requires one, and the 172’s type certificate data sheet makes it required equipment. Older 172s must carry an approved AFM, approved manual material, markings and placards, or a combination of them.
How do I know which 172 POH matches my airplane?
Find the model and serial number on the data plate or airworthiness certificate, then match the serial number to the model year and handbook part number in FAA type certificate data sheet 3A12. For a 172R or 172S, also match the avionics (standard, G1000, G1000 with GFC 700, or G1000 NXi), and on a 172R check for the 180-horsepower kit.
What are the sections of a Cessna 172 POH?
The standard numbered sections are General, Limitations, Emergency Procedures, Normal Procedures, Performance, Weight and Balance and Equipment List, Systems Description, Handling, Service and Maintenance, and Supplements. Students lean most on Section 2 for limits, Sections 3 and 4 for checklists, Section 5 for performance and Section 6 for weight and balance.