Aircraft records search before you buy: history, title & red flags
A good pre-purchase has two halves. The inspection examines the metal; the records check examines the story — and it comes first, because it's nearly free and it kills bad deals before you've paid for a mechanic's time. An hour with the federal record tells you whether the airplane's paper matches the seller's narrative.
Here's the records layer, in order, and where the paid services fit.
The free federal layer (do this first)
Everything below is public record and takes minutes in AvDB:
- 1
Registry record
Confirm the aircraft is validly registered, the seller matches the registered owner (or explain why not), and the serial number matches the data plate you'll see at the pre-buy.
- 2
Certificate dates
A recent certificate issue date means a recent transfer — ask why it's being sold again. Expiration coming due explains motivated pricing.
- 3
Accident history — across identities
NTSB search on the current tail, then previous registrations via the serial through deregistered records. Damage under an old tail number is the classic missed find.
- 4
Owner-at-the-time context
For any event you find, AvDB shows who owned the aircraft then — useful for judging how the repair era was managed.
- 5
Fleet context
Exact model counts (how many exist, where) frame parts availability and resale honestly.
What the federal record won't show
Liens and encumbrances, the complete chain of title, and recorded documents like Form 337 major-repair filings live in the FAA's aircraft records file, not the searchable registry. For those, you order the aircraft's records or pay a title company for a formal title search — modest money against a six-figure purchase, and lenders will require it anyway.
The right sequencing: free records check first (this page), then the pre-buy inspection, then the paid title search once you're proceeding. Each stage is a cheaper place to walk away than the next.
Red flags worth walking away from
- Serial number on the data plate doesn't match the registry record
- Seller isn't the registered owner and the explanation is vague
- Accident history under a previous registration the seller didn't volunteer
- Registration gaps — years where the airframe simply disappears from the record
- A story that conflicts with the paper on dates, owners, or damage
Frequently asked questions
How do I check an aircraft's history before buying?+
Free federal layer first: registry record, certificate dates, and NTSB accident history across the airframe's current and previous registrations — all searchable in AvDB. Then the pre-buy inspection, then a formal title search before closing.
What does an aircraft title search cost?+
Title companies typically charge under a couple hundred dollars for a search of the FAA records file — liens, chain of title, recorded 337s. Cheap insurance on an aircraft purchase, and required by most lenders.
Can I see Form 337 major repairs online?+
Not in the searchable registry — 337s live in the aircraft's records file, obtainable from the FAA or via a title/records service. The NTSB layer in AvDB tells you which events to expect paperwork for.
Run it in AvDB
The whole federal record, one search box
Every lookup in this guide is a single search in AvDB — free to download, with free searches every month.