You inherited an airplane. Here's exactly what to do next.
This article is for the person Googling "what do I do with my dad's airplane" or "my late husband had a hangar somewhere." If you're a non-pilot who's just inherited an aircraft — possibly one you've never even seen — start here. You don't need to learn to fly to handle this. You need a checklist.
Step 1: Don't panic. Don't sign anything yet.
The first calls you'll get are likely from people who already knew the deceased owned an airplane: a hangar landlord wanting back rent, a flight school wanting to "make an offer," sometimes a salvage operator. Don't agree to anything in the first 30 days. You have time. The airplane isn't going anywhere.
Step 2: Get authority to sell
You can't legally sell an asset out of an estate until probate gives you authority. The specific document varies by state, but it's typically called Letters Testamentary (if there's a will) or Letters of Administration (if there isn't). Talk to the estate attorney handling probate — they'll know what to file.
If the airplane is in a trust or LLC, the trust/operating-agreement documents control. Pull those out before doing anything else.
Step 3: Find the airplane and confirm registration
The N-number is on the side of the airplane in big letters. Once you have it, you can look up FAA registration at registry.faa.gov. This tells you:
- Who the registered owner is (should be the deceased or their entity)
- Whether registration is current or expired
- What kind of airplane it actually is (year, make, model, serial number)
If registration has expired since the owner passed, that's fixable — but it's one of the things a good buyer will handle for you.
Step 4: Locate the logbooks and key documents
Find:
- Airframe logbook
- Engine logbook (sometimes two — one per engine if twin)
- Propeller logbook (less common but exists)
- Most recent annual inspection signoff
- Airworthiness certificate (lives in the airplane)
- Aircraft registration certificate (also in the airplane)
- POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook)
- Any STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) paperwork
- Any 337 forms (major repair/alteration records)
These are usually in the airplane, in a hangar box, or in a filing cabinet at home. Some will be missing — that's normal, especially if the owner has been gone a few years. It affects value, not your ability to sell.
Step 5: Talk to the hangar landlord (carefully)
Two things to ask the FBO or airport manager:
- How much is owed? Hangar rent piles up. You're not personally liable for the deceased's debt to the FBO, but a lien on the airplane is possible if it's gone unpaid long enough.
- Can you keep storing it for 30–60 days? Most FBOs will work with you while the estate gets sorted, especially if you commit to a sale timeline.
Don't agree to "sell us the airplane and we'll forgive the rent" without checking what the airplane is actually worth. We've seen this offer pitched at one-tenth of value.
Step 6: Get a real valuation
Vref and Aircraft Bluebook are the industry-standard valuation services, but they assume turnkey condition. The actual value of an inherited airplane that's been sitting depends heavily on:
- How long since the last annual
- Hangared or outside storage
- Total airframe and engine time
- Equipment (avionics, autopilot, etc.)
- Damage history (gear-ups, prop strikes)
- Logbook completeness
Easiest path: call us. We'll pull comps, factor in the actual condition, and give you a real number — usually within 24 hours and at no cost. If you'd rather get a second opinion from a broker for comparison, that's fine too — just be honest with the broker about whether you actually plan to list it.
Step 7: Decide between selling and waiting
You usually have two real paths:
Sell to a direct buyer
One offer, one close, one wire. We handle escrow, title transfer, FAA dereg, and pickup. Most estate sales close in 7–14 days. The estate gets cash; you're done. Best for: most non-pilot heirs who don't want a 6-month process.
List with a broker
Better for: turnkey, recent-annual, well-documented airplanes where there's no rush. Worse for: airplanes that have been sitting, have missing logs, or are tying up estate distributions while the executor waits.
What we need to make you an offer
When you call (386) 209-6722 or submit the form, bring whatever you have:
- The tail number (N-number) — that's enough to start
- The make and model if you know it
- Where the airplane is sitting (airport identifier or address)
- Photos if you have them (your phone is fine)
- Approximate time since the airplane last flew
- A few words about logbook status
That's all. We'll handle the FAA pull, comp the airplane, and come back with a number.