1974 Cessna A185F Skywagon Listed for $275,000 in Manitoba with 4,503 Total Hours and Full Bush Modifications

A 1974 Cessna A185F Skywagon configured for backcountry operations has been listed for sale at $275,000. The aircraft is based in Manitoba, Canada, and has logged 4,503 total hours on the airframe, with the engine showing 1,031 hours since its last major overhaul.

The taildragger carries an Alaskan Bushwheel and fork STC, heavy-duty Cleveland main wheels and brakes, and a tail pull handle for ground maneuvering on unimproved strips. The propulsion package includes an STC-approved Hartzell propeller, governor, and spinner combination, along with high-efficiency air filters and a quick-drain fuel reservoir. Inside the cabin, factory trim has been replaced with fiberglass interior trim panels built to handle cargo loads such as camping gear, hunting supplies, and freight. The electrical system has been upgraded with STC-certified heavy-gauge copper wiring intended to improve reliability during cold-weather starts in remote environments.

Listings like this one illustrate how backcountry-modified Cessna 185s are valued on the strength of their STC upgrades and equipment package as much as on airframe hours alone. Bushwheel conversions, heavy-duty brakes, upgraded propellers, and reinforced electrical systems each carry their own certification trail, and buyers in this segment weigh those additions against the 4,503 total airframe hours and 1,031 hours since engine overhaul rather than treating the aircraft as a stock Skywagon.

In the used piston utility aircraft market, condition of modifications and documentation of STCs often matters as much as total time, since remote and unimproved-strip operations place different demands on landing gear, brakes, and electrical systems than standard airport flying. A prospective buyer would want to verify the paperwork behind each STC and confirm maintenance records align with the stated hours before the $275,000 asking price is tested against offers.