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Ed, I've used this website before to check damage history by "N" number but I've never checked it using Google. Explain how to "Google" the N number in more detail.
Are they merely an alternate source for the same information, or will they give different information?

Jeff,
Thanks for the tip on the Evaluation software. In my capacity as a loan officer with USDA I am accustomed to doing appraisals on farm equipment and livestock. Planes are a new thing for me. But I'm learning

Cool...I have about $70MM in Ag credits (from Spuds to Onions, Wheat, Dairies, Nurseries....) under management currently among 6 Ag lenders in Oregon.

What is meant by "Google" or even "Yahoo" ing, the N number is simply go to Google.com or Yahoo.com and enter the N number to search the internet. The NTSB accident reports will often pop up as sometimes do news reports or other info on the plane. For instance, enter n34908 and you will find out more than you want to know about my airplane. It had an accident history (which I knew about) that I used to negotiate the price downward. I accepted that a properly repaired aircraft in many ways would be as good or better than new, but also knew that it would adversely impact future value. Also...if you get to the NTSB reports and you see tons of them, just do "Edit" "Find on this page" if you use Internet Explorer and it will take you to the occurence of that N number.

Just make sure that the N number that is showing the accident history is the airplane you are looking at. N numbers do get reassigned, and people do request N numbers that were previously on aircraft that were damaged, destroyed, or had their N numbers changed or left the country. I think Wil discovered this with his 150, 501PA, which showed an accident or damage that turned out to be on a Pan American L1011 that had the number assigned to it at one time.

The N number could have damage but not the airplane you are looking at.

Charles

Went to look at two more local olanes today. What a waste of time. One, although looking good on the exterior (8), it hadn't been flown "much" since it's last annual in 1999. Yikes! Milky glass, and about about a 4 on the interior. Also something about major engine repairs done to one cylinder about 4 years ago that weren't logged. All this for a mere $18,000. Thanks but no thanks.
And believe it or not, the other one was worse. To let you know how bad it was I don't believe I would have it if the guy gave it to me. Still looking locally for now.

Hi Rusty,

Don't get discouraged, its good to see the bad with the good, its a learning experience in itself. Checking out lots of planes will show you the cross section out there. In no time you will see one and know thats the one and be able to evaluate it based on the others you studied.

Happy Hunting

Rock Whitney
71-150L

It's the same - you just don't have to dig through the Fed's web site.

It will also show any other hits (such as a news story with the N number).

It will also, unfortunately, give you links to pages where that N number is used for something else.

It's not all you have to do, by any means. I've been looking hard - and thought I found a possible candidate this week. Run out engine (of course) but otherwise seemed OK. No damage info in the NTSB, but when I called to make an appointment to see the plane, I asked about damage anyway. Good thing I did, it seems the right wing, stabilizer, elevator and the rudder had recently been replaced due to wind damage on the ground.

Ed

Have you noticed the ramp (or hangar) queens? Local airport has 4. A 150, 172, Cherokee 140 and a Warrior. All obviously sitting for years (flat tires, milky glass, etc). You're right, you can't talk to people like this - they refuse to accept the cost of getting the thing in reasonable shape to fly again.

Still lookin............
Ed

Hello all!
I have a very different point of view about finding an aircraft. I dreamed about owning my own airplane. Shortly after achieving my PPL 6 years ago I casually mentioned to my Dad maybe an airplane would be nice. Not really seriously. Just a pipe dream! Well, Dad told a friend who told a friend who then called me about a 150 he had for sale. To make a long story short, for most of you have already heard this tale, 72G came into our lives, sight unseen before it was delivered to me in Tonopah Nevada. So, one second a pipe dream and the next a proud aircraft owner.

Now, story two. A co worker built a Fisher FP202 Koala. A cub look-a-like in ultralight form. I had become very familiar with this airplane by talking to the co worker over the past year or so. It was his pride and joy. Well, out of the blue at work Thursday morning he asked me if he knew anybody interested in buying the plane. He was clearing out his shop so he could help his nephew build a plane of his own. Of course, out of curiosity, I asked how much. $1000, if I got it out of his shop that day. I had to ask again? $1,000. (No not $10,000! But only $1000!) As soon as I could pick up my jaw off the floor so to speak I advised him that he has sold the airplane, TO ME! And I was on the phone immediately to find a rental truck.

So I now have a gorgeous lil Mini Cub in the hanger alogside 72G. The workmanship is a work of art in it's self. All the blueprints, aircraft and engine owners manuals came with it. Along with every little note or scribble he made while building and flying the plane. Looks like I have a steep learning curve ahead of me. First I need to get in some tail dragger instruction to learn how to handle this lil beastie. Second, in looking at the engine owners manual, it appears that you just do not fly these lil 2 stroke engines like we presently do our 4 stroke. It appears that they are some what tempermental and require a lot of tender loving care and understand to keep them operating. I have been thinking about getting involved with the EAA, looks like now would be a good time to start.

So, everybody, finding an airplane is easy. Just sit and wait and one will just fall in your lap!!

Or hit you in the head. I was wandering through the hangar at my flight school, and saw this silly little 150, so diminuitive compared to the school's Piper Cherokees and Warriors. I had to duck to look inside. I had no thoughts of purchasing a plane until the line-boy mentioned it was for sale, asking $18,000.

Having just purchased a used Suburban for more than that, I began to think. Within a month plane ownership went from a pipe dream to reality.

Buying an airplane is a magical experience. You can't force it. It's kind of like finding a girlfriend. You simply have to go through the various motions of actively looking, only to have the right one sneak up from behind, unexpectedly tap you on the shoulder and say, "Here I am! Now what are your other two wishes?"