Selling your late husband's airplane: a plain-English guide.
If you're reading this, I'm sorry. You're likely dealing with something you never expected to handle — a hangar, a logbook, an airplane that was his — on top of everything else grief asks of you. I've walked several spouses through this, and I want to give you a calm, honest map. No jargon, no pressure. Just the steps, in the order they actually matter.
First, the most important thing: you do not have to figure this out this week. The airplane isn't going anywhere. There are a few small things worth doing soon to stop money from leaking, but the big decision can wait until you're ready.
Step 1: Stop the bleeding (this part is worth doing soon)
A parked airplane quietly costs money every month. You can usually pause most of it with two phone calls:
- Insurance. Call the broker. If no one is flying the airplane, you can typically switch from "in-motion" coverage to ground-only, which is much cheaper — but keep some coverage in place while it sits. Don't cancel entirely.
- The hangar landlord. Tell them what's happened. In my experience they're almost always kind about it, and many will work out a short-term, reduced, or month-to-month arrangement while the estate gets sorted.
That's it for "urgent." Everything below can move at your pace.
Step 2: Understand who legally owns it now
This is the part that intimidates people, and it's more manageable than it looks. To sell an airplane, whoever signs the bill of sale has to have the legal authority to convey title. Usually that means one of these:
- The airplane was jointly owned, and it passes to you directly; or
- You've been named executor and the court issues letters testamentary (or "letters of administration" if there was no will) — the document that says you're authorized to act for the estate.
If a probate attorney is already helping with the estate, this is a five-minute question for them. If you're handling things yourself, the county probate court can point you to the form. We've walked through the document chain in more detail in our guide for anyone who inherited an airplane — it's written for non-pilots.
Step 3: Gather what you can find (don't stress about gaps)
When you're ready, set aside anything that looks aircraft-related: the logbooks (often green or maroon hardcover booklets), the registration and any FAA letters, keys, and the name of the mechanic or shop he used. If logbooks are missing or incomplete, that's okay — it affects the price, not whether the airplane can be sold. (More on that here.)
Step 4: Get an honest sense of what it's worth
You may have heard a number from him over the years, or seen what "similar" airplanes list for online. Be a little careful with both — listed prices are asking prices, not selling prices, and an airplane that's been sitting is worth less than one that's been flying regularly. The only way to a real number is to have someone knowledgeable actually look at it. A reputable cash buyer will give you that read for free, with no obligation.
Step 5: Choose the path that fits your life right now
There are really two options.
List it with a broker
A broker can pursue the highest possible price, but it means months of strangers, showings, pre-buy inspections, and a commission — while you keep paying to hold the airplane and keep the chapter open. For some people that's worth it. For many recently-widowed sellers, it's the opposite of what they want.
Sell it to a cash buyer
This is what we do at Cash4Planes. We buy directly with our own funds, handle the title and FAA paperwork through a licensed escrow company, and come to the airplane — you don't have to ferry it or fix anything. It closes in days, the money is wired to the estate account, and the chapter closes cleanly. Our offer won't be the theoretical retail peak, but it's real, fast, and gentle on you.
"My husband's Bonanza sat for almost a year because I didn't know where to start. I finally called, half-expecting a hard sell. Instead they explained the paperwork, came to the hangar, and handled all of it. I just needed someone to be kind and competent at the same time." — a seller we helped last year
A note on the part nobody puts in a checklist
Sometimes the hardest step isn't the FAA form — it's giving yourself permission to let the airplane go. It carried someone you loved through a lot of good days. Selling it is not erasing him, and keeping it out of guilt rarely brings the comfort people hope for. Whenever you decide, decide because it's right for you — not because the hangar bill forced your hand.
If you'd like a hand
You can call me or Thomas directly at (386) 209-6722, or send us the basics online and we'll reach out gently. Even if you're months away from deciding, a no-obligation conversation will tell you what you're working with — and take one unknown off your plate.