Most bad airplane purchases don't come from bad luck. They come from skipped steps. A buyer falls for the paint, trusts a "fresh annual," and finds the real story in the first year of ownership.
This checklist runs in the order you'll need it. Brooks buys, sells and brokers airplanes as well as inspecting them, so he sees these deals from both sides.
1. Decide what the plane is for
Write down the flying you actually do. How many seats do you fill? How far do you go? Do you need to fly in the clouds? A plane that fits most of your trips beats one bought for the dream trip you take once a year.
2. Budget for owning, not just buying
The purchase price is the first bill, not the last. Add up:
- Insurance
- A hangar or tie-down
- The annual inspection and the repairs it turns up
- Fuel and oil
- Money set aside every hour for the next engine overhaul
The annual alone varies a lot. Flying Magazine's 2026 cost breakdown puts a healthy Cessna 172's total annual at $2,500 to $4,500. A plane with deferred maintenance can run $8,000 to $12,000. Our guide to what an annual costs goes deeper.
3. Get an insurance quote early
Call an aviation insurance broker before you fall for a specific plane. Retractable gear, high horsepower and your time in the make and model all move the premium. Some planes cost more to insure than buyers expect.
4. Read the ads like a mechanic
Learn the shorthand, and be careful with the claims.
- TTAF is total time on the airframe.
- SMOH is engine time since the last major overhaul.
- "Fresh annual" means less than it sounds like. The seller's shop probably did it, and an annual only says the plane was airworthy that day.
- "No damage history" is a claim to check, not a fact to trust.
5. Check the history yourself
Look up the N-number in the FAA aircraft registry to confirm the owner and registration. Search the NTSB's public accident database too. Both are free and take a few minutes.
6. Get a pre-buy inspection
Hire your own mechanic, not the seller's. This is the step that saves the most money. Here's what a pre-buy inspection covers.
7. Put the deal in writing
Use a written purchase agreement, and make the sale depend on the pre-buy results. Many buyers use an aviation title company to search the title and hold the money in escrow until the paperwork is clean.
8. Handle the FAA paperwork
The seller signs an Aircraft Bill of Sale, AC Form 8050-2. You file it with an Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1. The logbooks and the airworthiness certificate stay with the airplane.
9. Start fresh with your own mechanic
Once the plane is yours, have your mechanic go through it and set a baseline. You'll know what's coming instead of finding out at the worst time.
Looking to buy or sell a plane in New England? Brooks can inspect it, help you find one, or broker the sale. Call or text him any time.