Buying Your First Airplane

Buying an aircraft is buying a maintenance history as much as a machine. A disciplined process protects you from expensive surprises. This is a general orientation, not legal or financial advice.

The prebuy inspection

Commission an independent prebuy inspection by a mechanic who is familiar with the type and who did not maintain the aircraft for the seller. A prebuy is not an annual — it is a focused look for airworthiness issues, corrosion, damage history and expensive squawks before money changes hands. It is the single most valuable step.

Review the records

Go through the maintenance records (logbooks) yourself and with your mechanic:

• Is the annual inspection current, and is there a continuous history?
• Is there a complete [Airworthiness Directive](/guides/airworthiness-directives-explained) compliance record, including recurring ADs?
• Any evidence of damage, major repairs or major alterations (Form 337s)?
• Do engine and propeller times, and any overhauls, match the claims?

Missing or discontinuous records reduce value and can hide problems.

Title, registration and paperwork

Confirm the seller holds clear title and run a title/lien search through the FAA registry or a title service. At closing you will need a bill of sale and to file for aircraft registration with the FAA; the aircraft cannot be operated until it is properly registered, and the required documents (ARROW) must be aboard.

Budget beyond the price

Ownership costs continue after purchase — inspections, ADs, insurance, storage and reserves for engine and avionics. Talk to owners of the same type and to your mechanic before you commit; every model has its own known issues and cost profile.

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*Reference and training only — not for navigation or as legal advice. Always consult the current 14 CFR, the AIM, your aircraft’s POH/AFM and a certificated flight instructor.*