N301DR

This airframe, registered as N301DR, is a 1977-built Cessna 501 Citation I/SP, serial number 501-0273, manufactured by Cessna (Textron Aviation). The airframe is documented as owned by KEETON JOE M of Hertford, North Carolina, US, and operates with a US registration. The airframe’s public valuation is listed at $791,000, reflecting its vintage production year and typical market condition for late-1970s light business jets. Notable registry details include its single individual owner record and continued operation from a US home base rather than multiple documented owner transfers.

The cabin of this Cessna 501 follows a typical executive layout accommodating approximately six to eight passengers with an aft lavatory and is configured as single-pilot capable in the I/SP variant. Avionics reflect a factory-era Sperry/Collins fit commonly found on Citation Is, with many airframes receiving aftermarket retrofits; examples include Sperry SPZ-500 autopilot, Collins comm/nav equipment, and various Garmin upgrades, though specific retrofit installations vary by airframe. Typical mission profiles for this airframe emphasize short-to-medium-range executive transport within the continental United States, taking advantage of its 1,328 nm range and 322 kt cruise for point-to-point business travel. Maintenance considerations for this specific airframe include vintage-system inspections and potential avionics modernization given its 1977 build year and common retrofit history.

The Cessna 501 Citation I/SP occupies the light business jet niche of late 1970s designs: efficient for owner-operators and charter fleets requiring short-field performance and single-pilot capability. Competing models of the era include other early light jets with similar Pratt & Whitney JT15D powerplants; demand tends toward buyers seeking lower acquisition cost and simple operating profiles. Resale considerations for this airframe hinge on maintenance history, engine program status, and avionics modernization — factors that strongly influence value despite the listed $791,000 appraisal.