Cessna 310s are all used: the line ended in 1981, and the FAA register still lists 1,617 of them. Prices vary widely with age, engines and condition, and we could not find a current sourced price sample, so this page does not quote a price range. What we can show is what the airplane is, how many fly, what it burns and what the accident files record.
The 310 is a twin, which changes the cost picture. Aviation Consumer's verdict on twins is blunt: "the true cost of a twin is doubled engine maintenance and fuel bills."
What the 310 Is
Cessna introduced the 310 in 1954, a year after the Piper PA-23 Apache, and it was the company's first modern business twin. The first ones were sold as 1955 models with 240 hp Continental O-470 engines and "tuna" tip tanks. Over the years the tail was swept, the engines grew and the gross weight rose. The 310C in 1959 brought fuel-injected 260 hp engines, the 310G in 1962 brought the canted Stabila-Tip tanks, and the T-310P in 1969 brought a turbocharged version with 285 hp engines. The big change came in 1975 with the 310R: 285 hp Continental IO-520M engines, a 5,500 pound maximum takeoff weight and a 32 inch nose stretch for more baggage and avionics. Production ended in 1981, according to Aviation Consumer.
The 310R at a Glance
Cessna 310R specifications, AOPA aircraft guide| Item | Value |
|---|
| Engines | Two Continental IO-520-MB, 285 hp each, three-blade constant-speed propellers |
|---|
| Maximum takeoff weight | 5,500 lb |
|---|
| Empty weight | 3,358 lb |
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| Useful load | 2,163 lb |
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| Payload with full fuel | 719 lb |
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| Wingspan and length | 36 ft 9 in and 32 ft |
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| Stall speed (Vs1 and Vso) | 79 and 72 knots |
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| Takeoff over a 50 ft obstacle | 1,770 ft |
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| Landing over a 50 ft obstacle | 1,790 ft |
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| Rate of climb, sea level | 1,662 fpm |
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| Service ceiling | 19,750 ft |
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AOPA describes the 310R as a four-or-six-seat, low-wing airplane with retractable gear and a cruise speed just over 190 knots. All figures are the manufacturer's calculations under standard conditions. The turbocharged T310R trades some simplicity for altitude performance.
What to Know Before You Buy
Aviation Consumer calls the landing gear relatively delicate and sensitive to rigging and maintenance, and it says the airplane "can be a handful to fly" without proper training. Pilots report a tendency toward Dutch roll in new pilots, which the magazine ties partly to the fuel in the wingtip tanks. The 310 sits high on its gear, so hard landings are a risk, and the fuel system takes study. In the AOPA owner profile, the owner warns that you must take off and land on the main tanks, which are the long wingtip tanks, and that switching to the auxiliary tanks too soon can vent return fuel overboard.
Many owners upgrade. The owner in that profile fitted vortex generators, replaced the propellers and changed to 300 hp Continental IO-550 engines under a supplemental type certificate. Those upgrades change both the cost and the performance, so ask what has been done and who did it.
To fly any twin you need a multiengine class rating, one of the four airplane classes in 14 CFR 61.5. See our private pilot privileges guide for how ratings work.
What It Burns
Aviation Consumer puts fuel burn at about 31 gallons an hour for the later versions, for both engines together, and says the normally aspirated models are happiest at lower power settings. The 310 burns avgas, and the table shows what 31 gallons an hour costs at three example prices.
Example fuel cost per flight hour for a later 310 (example prices, not quotes)| Avgas price | Fuel cost per hour at 31 gallons |
|---|
| $5 per gallon | $155 |
|---|
| $6 per gallon | $186 |
|---|
| $7 per gallon | $217 |
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Fuel is one line of the cost. A twin has two engines to overhaul, two propellers and a complex gear system, and insurance, hangar and maintenance quotes vary by owner and airport, so we publish no averages we cannot source. For another piston twin with sourced numbers, see our Beechcraft Baron cost guide.
How Many Are Flying
The FAA register lists 1,617 aircraft under 310 and T310 labels as of 13 October 2026, and 1,578 hold a valid registration. The largest groups are the 310R (361), 310Q (277), T310R (140), 310 (103), 310K (78) and 310L (62). Of those with a usable build year, 163 date from the 1950s, 460 from the 1960s, 636 from the 1970s and 27 from 1980 or later. A further 330 records have a blank or invalid build year.
A large share are held by individuals: 644 registrations (39.8%), against 481 for LLCs (29.7%), 298 for corporations (18.4%) and 153 co-owned (9.5%). The register records the owner type, not how the airplane is used. Texas (163), Florida (153), California (145), Arizona (73) and Delaware (68) lead the state table by registration address.
Accident Record: Counts, Not Rates
The NTSB database lists 253 accidents involving Cessna 310 and T310 aircraft from 2000 through 2025. Of those, 95 were fatal, with 180 deaths. The yearly count falls from 20 in 2000 to 5 in 2025. These are counts, not rates: the NTSB file holds no flying hours by model, and the fleet has aged and changed over those years. They do not make the 310 safe or unsafe.
Where the 310 Fits
The 310 sits between single-engine airplanes such as the Cessna 182 and the larger turboprops. Our guide to the types of planes explains the multi-engine piston category, and the small plane cost comparison sets common families side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cessna 310 cost?
It depends on the year and condition. We found no current sourced price sample, so we do not quote a range. Check current listings and get a pre-buy inspection and appraisal.
How many Cessna 310s are registered in the US?
The FAA register lists 1,617 aircraft under 310 and T310 labels, and 1,578 hold a valid registration.
When was the Cessna 310 built?
Cessna introduced it in 1954 and production ended in 1981, according to Aviation Consumer. The 310R, with a 5,500 pound maximum takeoff weight, arrived in 1975.
How much fuel does a Cessna 310 burn?
Aviation Consumer puts later versions at about 31 gallons an hour for both engines together.
Do I need a special license to fly a Cessna 310?
You need a multiengine class rating on your pilot certificate, and training in the airplane. 14 CFR 61.5 lists multiengine land as one of the four airplane classes.
Is the Cessna 310 hard to fly?
Aviation Consumer says it can be a handful without proper training, and notes a tendency to Dutch roll and a delicate landing gear. Owners say it makes a stable IFR platform.
Related guides: How Much Does a Tecnam P2006T Cost?.
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