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How to Buy a Cessna Citation V / Encore / Excel / XLS: Buyer's Guide
Cessna's Model 560 family offers proven, easy-to-fly midsize-cabin Citations, from $1 million-class Citation Vs to near-new XLS+ and Gen2 jets.
Updated October 2026 · Market data from 73 live fyiAero listings, the FAA registry and NTSB records
Overview
The Cessna 560 type certificate covers two distinct lines of Citations. The straight-wing Citation V, V Ultra, Encore and Encore+ are stretched, more powerful descendants of the Citation II. The Citation Excel, XLS, XLS+, XLS Gen2 and new Ascend pair a shortened Citation X-style stand-up cabin with a straight wing derived from the Ultra. Both lines share Cessna's formula: docile handling, short-field ability, a huge service network and parts support that keeps 30-year-old airframes earning their keep.
fyiAero listings currently show 73 aircraft for sale across the family, with asking prices from $1,100,000 to $9,195,000 and a median of $2,150,000. The V Ultra is the most common listing with 23 for sale, followed by the Encore with 12 and the original Citation V with 11. Listed model years run from 1991 to 2011, and the median airframe has 7,613 hours. These are working jets, and condition and records matter more than model year alone.
The FAA registry shows 1,336 Model 560 family aircraft on the U.S. register, so you have plenty to choose from. That also means you can afford to be picky. Engine program status, avionics capability and damage history will move the price far more than paint and leather.
Who it's for. This family suits an owner or small flight department that regularly carries four to seven passengers on trips of roughly two to four hours and wants to use shorter runways than most midsize jets can manage. The Citation V, Ultra and Encore line operates under the CE-560 type rating and can be flown single-pilot with the proper endorsement, which appeals to owner-operators. The Excel/XLS line requires a separate CE-560XL type rating and is generally operated with two pilots. Insurance is the reality check. Underwriters will want a type rating, recurrent simulator training, and meaningful jet or turbine time before they offer reasonable terms for single-pilot operation. A low-time owner-pilot should expect to fly with a qualified second pilot or mentor for an initial period, and many buyers simply budget for a professional crew.
Generations and variants
| Version | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Citation V | 1989-1994 | Stretched Citation II with Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5A engines and mostly analog or early EFIS panels. These are the entry point of the family and the least expensive jets on the market, but avionics upgrades and engine program status heavily affect value. |
| Citation V Ultra | 1994-2000 | Uprated JT15D-5D engines and a standard Honeywell Primus 1000 EFIS cockpit brought better climb and a more modern panel. As the most common listing, Ultras set the benchmark for pricing in the lower half of the market. |
| Citation Encore / Encore+ | 2000-2009 | The Encore switched to more efficient PW535 engines and trailing-link gear for smoother landings. The Encore+ added FADEC and a Collins Pro Line 21 cockpit. Encores command a clear premium over Ultras, and the Encore+ brings the most money in the straight-wing line. |
| Citation Excel | 1998-2004 | Pairs a stand-up, flat-floor cabin with PW545 engines and the proven straight wing, and it became one of the best-selling business jets of its era. Its cabin is the main reason buyers pay more than for a comparable-year Ultra or Encore. |
| Citation XLS / XLS+ | 2004-2014 | The XLS refined the Excel with improved engines and a Primus 1000 cockpit. The XLS+ added FADEC engines, a Pro Line 21 cockpit and restyled nose and interior. The XLS+ is a big step up in price, and these jets sit near the top of what is listed. |
| Citation XLS Gen2 / Ascend | 2014-2020s | The Gen2 brought updated Pro Line 21 avionics and a redesigned interior, and the Ascend is the newest evolution with a Garmin cockpit and further refinements. Expect these late-production jets to price far above the older fleet and to sell largely on warranty and program coverage. |
What a Cessna Citation V / Encore / Excel / XLS costs to buy
15 priced listings on fyiAero right now ask between $1,100,000 and $9,195,000, with a median of $2,150,000 and a median of 7,613 hours total time. Against fyiEstimate, 7 are priced below estimate, 0 within range and 7 above.
- Know which half of the family you are shopping. In fyiAero listings, 1990s Citation V and Ultra examples mostly ask between about $1.29 million and $2.3 million, while 2001-2006 aircraft average roughly $2.85 million to $3.3 million.
- Late-model jets jump sharply in price. Single listings show a 2007 at about $6.5 million and a 2011 at $9.195 million, so a few model years can mean several million dollars.
- Airframe hours are a major value driver. Listings with 3,000-5,000 hours carry a median ask of $4,872,500, versus $1,995,000 for those over 5,000 hours. Against a family median of 7,613 hours, a low-time jet is worth paying attention to.
- Engine program enrollment can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. A jet with engines on an hourly maintenance program and a transferable balance is often a better buy than a cheaper one that leaves you facing a mid-life or overhaul event out of pocket.
- Price avionics capability, not just brand. ADS-B Out, RVSM, TCAS, WAAS/LPV capability and display condition all affect value and dispatch reliability. An older Primus 1000 jet with aging displays may need a budget line for repairs or a panel retrofit.
- Demand complete, continuous logbooks and a clean damage history. With this many aircraft listed, walking away from gaps in the records costs you little.
Average asking price by model year
Median asking price by airframe time
| 3,000–5,000 hrs | $4,872,500 | 4 listings |
| 5,000+ hrs | $1,995,000 | 11 listings |
Pre-buy inspection checklist
Have a shop that knows the type do the pre-buy, and ask them to research every applicable AD and service bulletin. Pay particular attention to:
- Engine maintenance program and trend data. JT15D, PW535 and PW545 overhaul and hot-section events are the largest single cost risk, so verify program enrollment, transferability, buy-in costs and engine trend monitoring history.
- Borescope and hot-section condition. A borescope inspection by an engine specialist reveals combustor and turbine distress that logbooks and trend data alone will not show.
- Inspection program status and upcoming events. Confirm where the jet stands in Cessna's progressive or phase inspection program and price any major inspections, landing gear overhauls or calendar items coming due soon after purchase.
- Corrosion in wings, landing gear and lower fuselage. Older airframes, especially those based near salt water or stored outside, can hide corrosion in wing structure, gear wells, lavatory and galley areas that is expensive to repair.
- Applicable ADs and service bulletins. Have the shop research all ADs and SBs for the specific model and serial number, including recurring items on gear, flight controls and engines, and confirm compliance is properly documented.
- Avionics and displays. Older EFIS display units and FMS boxes can be costly to repair and increasingly hard to source, so test every screen and verify ADS-B Out, TCAS, RVSM and navigation database currency.
- Ice protection systems. Inspect wing and tail ice protection, engine inlet heat, windshield heat and associated plumbing and controllers, because these systems are critical for dispatch and are often neglected on low-utilization jets.
- Landing gear, brakes and anti-skid. Short-field operations put heavy loads on brakes and gear, so check brake wear, anti-skid function, gear actuators and trailing-link components on Encore and Excel-series aircraft.
- Thrust reversers. Verify proper deployment, stowage, lock indications and actuator condition, since reverser problems can ground the jet and are a common squawk area.
- Pressurization and door seals. Run a pressurization check to confirm the cabin holds normal differential, and inspect door seals, outflow valves and windows for leaks or cracking.
Popular upgrades
- Flight deck retrofit. Modern integrated avionics retrofits for Excel/XLS and some straight-wing models address display obsolescence, add WAAS/LPV capability and can significantly boost resale value and marketability.
- ADS-B Out and related compliance. Now essentially mandatory for U.S. operations. A jet without it is priced at a discount equal to the installation cost plus downtime.
- Engine program enrollment. Enrolling engines in an hourly cost program smooths maintenance costs, and a fully paid-up program is one of the strongest value adders at resale.
- Interior refurbishment. Many older jets carry dated interiors. A quality refurbishment with new seats, cabinetry and lighting helps a jet sell faster but rarely returns its full cost.
- Cabin connectivity and entertainment. Wi-Fi and cabin management upgrades are increasingly expected by passengers and improve marketability, especially in the Excel/XLS cabin.
- Paint. Fresh paint makes a strong first impression and protects the airframe, but buyers should still look past cosmetics to engines and records.
Ownership costs
Ownership is serious money even for the oldest jets in this family. The fyiAero operating cost model for the type estimates a variable cost of about $3,220 per hour, driven by fuel burn of roughly 199 gallons per hour, engine program reserves and maintenance. At about 370 knots cruise, that works out to roughly $8.03 per nautical mile. Flying about 325 hours a year with crew, hangar, insurance, training, subscriptions and maintenance included puts the estimated annual budget near $1,528,455. The same model assumes an average pre-owned value of about $1,861,489. Actual costs vary by model. Straight-wing Vs and Ultras and newer FADEC-equipped XLS+ jets differ in fuel burn and maintenance, and an older jet with unfunded engine programs or tired avionics can surprise you. Fixed costs keep running whether you fly or not, so low-utilization owners pay much more per hour.
Safety record
NTSB records show 18 accidents involving Model 560 family aircraft over the last 10 years, five of them fatal and six resulting in a destroyed aircraft. Against a U.S. registered fleet of 1,336, that equals about 13.5 accidents and 3.7 fatal accidents per 1,000 registered aircraft over the decade. That is in line with a mature fleet of hard-working business jets flown in all weather, often into short or challenging airports. The airplane itself has a reputation for honest handling, and the recurring risk areas are mostly operational: runway excursions on short or contaminated runways, unstabilized approaches, icing operations, and single-pilot workload in demanding weather. Recurrent simulator training, a disciplined stabilized-approach policy, realistic runway performance planning and conservative personal minimums for single-pilot flying do far more for safety than any equipment option.
Alternatives to consider
- Cessna Citation Bravo / 550 series. Less expensive to buy and similar to fly, but with a smaller cabin, slower speed and shorter legs than an Encore or Excel.
- Embraer Phenom 300. Newer design with a modern Garmin cockpit, strong performance and single-pilot certification, at a substantially higher acquisition price.
- Cessna Citation CJ3 / CJ4. Single-pilot friendly with modern avionics and lower operating cost, but with a smaller cabin than the Excel/XLS stand-up cabin.
- Beechjet 400A / Hawker 400XP. Fast and often cheaper to buy, but with a tighter cabin and less forgiving short-field performance than the straight-wing Citations.
- Learjet 45. Faster and higher-flying with a comparable cabin, but typically higher maintenance costs and longer runway requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used Cessna Citation 560 cost?
fyiAero listings currently show asking prices from $1,100,000 to $9,195,000, with a median of $2,150,000. The oldest Citation V and Ultra models sit at the low end, while late-model XLS+ and newer aircraft command the highest prices.
What is the difference between the Citation V/Encore and the Citation Excel/XLS?
The Citation V, Ultra and Encore are stretched descendants of the Citation II with a lower cabin. The Excel and XLS pair a stand-up, flat-floor cabin with the straight wing and use a separate type rating. Buyers pay more for the Excel/XLS cabin at a comparable model year.
Can a Cessna 560 be flown single-pilot?
The Citation V, Ultra and Encore can be flown single-pilot under the CE-560 type rating with the appropriate endorsement. The Excel/XLS family is generally operated with two pilots. Insurance requirements often dictate crew configuration regardless of certification.
What does it cost to operate a Citation 560 per year?
The fyiAero cost model estimates about $3,220 per hour in variable costs and an annual budget near $1,528,455 for 325 hours of flying. Actual figures depend on model, crew arrangement, engine programs and utilization.
How many hours do used Citation 560s typically have?
The median airframe in fyiAero listings has 7,613 hours. Jets in the 3,000-5,000 hour range carry a median ask of $4,872,500, compared with $1,995,000 for those over 5,000 hours.
How safe is the Cessna Citation 560 family?
NTSB records show 18 accidents over the past 10 years, five fatal, which works out to about 13.5 accidents per 1,000 registered aircraft against a fleet of 1,336. Most risk is operational, so recurrent simulator training and careful runway planning are the best safeguards.
Cessna Citation V / Encore / Excel / XLS for sale
Prices, fleet and safety figures update automatically from fyiAero listings, the FAA aircraft registry and NTSB data. The editorial was written by fyiAero with AI assistance from that data and general type knowledge. It is not a substitute for a pre-buy inspection, title search or professional advice.
