Aircraft Buyer’s Guides
What to check before buying 51 of the most commonly traded general aviation makes and models — registration status, NTSB accident history, the airworthiness directives that name the type, and the chain of registered owners. Pick a model, or go straight to a tail number.
Already have a tail number?
Single-Engine Piston
30 models
Cessna 150
1959-1977 · Continental O-200
The Cessna 150 is one of the most popular two-seat training aircraft ever produced, with over 23,000 built. Known for its forgiving handling and low operating costs.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 152
1978-1985 · Lycoming O-235
The Cessna 152 succeeded the 150 as the primary two-seat trainer, featuring improved engine and aerodynamics. It remains a staple of flight schools worldwide.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 172 Skyhawk
1956-present · Lycoming O-360 / IO-360
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most produced aircraft in history, with over 44,000 built. It is a four-seat, high-wing airplane widely used for training and personal flying.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 177 Cardinal
1968-1978 · Lycoming O-360
The Cessna 177 Cardinal was designed as a modern replacement for the 172, featuring a cantilever wing and wider cabin. It offers improved visibility and a sleek profile.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 182 Skylane
1956-present · Lycoming O-540 / IO-540
The Cessna 182 Skylane offers step-up performance from the 172 with a larger engine, retractable or fixed gear options, and greater payload capacity for cross-country flying.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 185 Skywagon
1961-1985 · Continental IO-520
The Cessna 185 Skywagon is a rugged tailwheel utility aircraft favored for bush flying and backcountry operations. Its strong airframe handles rough strips with ease.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 206 Stationair
1964-present · Lycoming IO-540
The Cessna 206 Stationair is a six-seat utility workhorse prized for its large cabin, high useful load, and versatility in hauling passengers and cargo.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 210 Centurion
1960-1986 · Continental IO-520 / TSIO-520
The Cessna 210 Centurion is a high-performance retractable single with a pressurized cabin option and impressive speed, popular among owner-pilots for cross-country missions.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-28 Cherokee
1961-present · Lycoming O-320 / O-360
The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft used extensively for training and personal flying. Its low-wing design and rugged gear make it a dependable trainer.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-28 Warrior
1974-present · Lycoming O-320
The Piper Warrior is a Cherokee variant with a tapered wing for improved handling. It is one of the most common training aircraft in the United States.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-28R Arrow
1967-present · Lycoming IO-360
The Piper Arrow adds retractable gear and a constant-speed prop to the Cherokee platform, making it a popular complex trainer and cross-country aircraft.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-32 Saratoga
1980-2009 · Lycoming IO-540
The Piper Saratoga is a six-seat single with generous cabin space and strong payload capacity. Retractable gear models offer excellent cross-country performance.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-46 Malibu
1984-present · Continental TSIO-520 / Lycoming TIO-540
The Piper Malibu is a pressurized, high-performance single-engine aircraft designed for long-range personal and business travel above the weather.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-18 Super Cub
1949-1994 · Lycoming O-320
The Piper Super Cub is a legendary backcountry and bush aircraft, valued for its STOL capability, simplicity, and enduring resale value.
Buyer’s guide →Beechcraft Bonanza A36
1968-2005 · Continental IO-550
The Beechcraft Bonanza A36 is a high-performance single with a conventional tail and spacious cabin. It is considered the gold standard of personal aircraft.
Buyer’s guide →Beechcraft Bonanza V35
1947-1982 · Continental IO-520
The V-tail Bonanza is an iconic American aircraft, known for its distinctive butterfly tail and outstanding performance. One of the longest production runs in aviation.
Buyer’s guide →Beechcraft Musketeer / Sport
1963-1983 · Lycoming O-320 / O-360
The Beechcraft Musketeer is an affordable four-seat trainer and personal aircraft. Its fixed-gear simplicity and Beechcraft build quality make it an excellent value.
Buyer’s guide →Cirrus SR20
1999-present · Continental IO-360
The Cirrus SR20 is a modern composite four-seat aircraft featuring the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) and advanced Garmin glass cockpit avionics.
Buyer’s guide →Cirrus SR22
2001-present · Continental IO-550
The Cirrus SR22 is the best-selling single-engine piston aircraft in the world, combining composite construction, whole-aircraft parachute, and glass cockpit technology.
Buyer’s guide →Cirrus SR22T
2010-present · Continental TSIO-550
The Cirrus SR22T adds turbocharging to the SR22 platform, enabling high-altitude performance and faster cruise speeds. It is the flagship of the SR line.
Buyer’s guide →Mooney M20J 201
1977-1998 · Lycoming IO-360
The Mooney M20J 201 is famous for its speed efficiency, cruising at over 160 knots on a modest engine. Its laminar flow wing and retractable gear deliver outstanding performance.
Buyer’s guide →Mooney M20K 252
1986-1998 · Continental TSIO-360
The Mooney M20K 252 adds turbocharging for high-altitude cruise, making it one of the fastest normally-aspirated-class airframes available on the used market.
Buyer’s guide →Mooney M20R Ovation
1994-2008 · Continental IO-550
The Mooney Ovation is the naturally aspirated flagship of the M20 line, offering over 175 knots cruise speed. It combines Mooney speed with modern avionics.
Buyer’s guide →Diamond DA40 Diamond Star
2000-present · Lycoming IO-360 / Austro AE300
The Diamond DA40 is a modern composite four-seat aircraft with a T-tail and excellent visibility. Known for fuel efficiency and forgiving stall characteristics.
Buyer’s guide →Grumman AA-5B Tiger
1975-1979 · Lycoming O-360
The Grumman Tiger is a sporty four-seat low-wing aircraft with a sliding canopy and bonded aluminum construction. Known for its responsive handling and speed.
Buyer’s guide →Grumman AA-1 Yankee/Trainer
1968-1978 · Lycoming O-235
The Grumman Yankee is a two-seat light sport aircraft with distinctive bonded aluminum construction and a sliding bubble canopy. A fun and affordable sport aircraft.
Buyer’s guide →Maule M-7 Super Rocket
1984-present · Lycoming IO-540
The Maule M-7 is a rugged STOL utility aircraft built for backcountry and bush flying. Its fabric-covered airframe and powerful engine handle unimproved strips well.
Buyer’s guide →Lancair IV-P
1993-present · Continental TSIO-550
The Lancair IV-P is a pressurized high-performance composite kit aircraft capable of over 300 knots. It is among the fastest piston singles ever built.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 180 Skywagon
1953-1981 · Continental O-470
The Cessna 180 Skywagon is a four-seat tailwheel aircraft prized for bush flying and backcountry access. Its conventional gear and strong engine make it a capable utility aircraft.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-24 Comanche
1958-1972 · Lycoming IO-540
The Piper Comanche is a classic retractable single valued for its speed, range, and useful load. It remains a popular and affordable cross-country airplane.
Buyer’s guide →Twin Piston
10 models
Cessna 310
1954-1980 · Continental IO-520
The Cessna 310 is a light twin-engine aircraft that set the standard for personal and business travel when introduced. Its distinctive tip tanks are an iconic design feature.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 340
1972-1984 · Continental TSIO-520
The Cessna 340 is a pressurized light twin offering cabin comfort at altitude. It bridges the gap between piston twins and turboprops for owner-pilots.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 414 Chancellor
1970-1985 · Continental TSIO-520
The Cessna 414 Chancellor is a pressurized cabin-class twin offering turboprop-like comfort with piston economics. Popular for personal and light business use.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-34 Seneca
1972-present · Continental TSIO-360 / Lycoming TIO-360
The Piper Seneca is a light twin-engine aircraft often used for multi-engine training and personal transportation. It shares DNA with the PA-32 Cherokee Six.
Buyer’s guide →Piper PA-44 Seminole
1979-present · Lycoming O-360
The Piper Seminole is a purpose-built multi-engine trainer with counter-rotating props for reduced critical engine effects. A flight school favorite.
Buyer’s guide →Beechcraft Baron 58
1970-2005 · Continental IO-550
The Beechcraft Baron 58 is a six-seat light twin known for its speed, range, and quality construction. A popular step-up from single-engine aircraft.
Buyer’s guide →Diamond DA42 Twin Star
2004-present · Austro AE300 / Lycoming IO-360
The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a modern composite twin-engine aircraft, popular for multi-engine training. Diesel engine variants offer exceptional fuel economy.
Buyer’s guide →Diamond DA62
2015-present · Austro AE330
The Diamond DA62 is a seven-seat twin-engine aircraft with jet-fuel diesel engines. Its composite airframe, modern avionics, and spacious cabin set a new standard in its class.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
1968-1985 · Continental GTSIO-520
The Cessna 421 Golden Eagle is a pressurized cabin-class piston twin offering spacious seating for up to eight. It fills the niche between light twins and turboprops.
Buyer’s guide →Beechcraft Duchess 76
1978-1983 · Lycoming O-360
The Beechcraft Duchess is a light twin-engine trainer with T-tail design and counter-rotating propellers. It is widely used for multi-engine flight training.
Buyer’s guide →Turboprop
7 models
Piper PA-46 Meridian
2000-present · Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A
The Piper Meridian is the turboprop variant of the PA-46 platform, offering pressurized cabin comfort, higher altitude capability, and jet-fuel convenience.
Buyer’s guide →Beechcraft King Air 90
1964-present · Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21
The Beechcraft King Air 90 is a twin-turboprop workhorse used worldwide for charter, corporate, and special-mission operations. Its pressurized cabin seats up to seven.
Buyer’s guide →Beechcraft King Air 200
1974-present · Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42
The King Air 200 is a larger cabin-class turboprop offering increased range, payload, and passenger comfort over the 90 series. A mainstay of corporate aviation.
Buyer’s guide →Beechcraft King Air 350
1990-present · Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A
The King Air 350 is the largest and most capable member of the King Air family, offering stand-up cabin height, long range, and high cruise speeds.
Buyer’s guide →DAHER TBM 850
2006-2013 · Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D
The TBM 850 is a single-engine turboprop known for its speed and efficiency. It offers near-jet performance with turboprop economy and single-pilot certification.
Buyer’s guide →DAHER TBM 900
2014-present · Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D
The TBM 900 series delivers over 300 knots cruise speed in a pressurized single-engine turboprop. Its efficiency and range make it a favorite of owner-pilots.
Buyer’s guide →Pilatus PC-12
1994-present · Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B/P
The Pilatus PC-12 is a versatile single-engine turboprop with a large cabin, cargo door, and exceptional short-field performance. Used for charter, medevac, and private travel.
Buyer’s guide →Rotorcraft
2 models
Robinson R22
1979-present · Lycoming O-320 / O-360
The Robinson R22 is the most popular two-seat piston helicopter in the world. It is the standard training helicopter and is also used for ranch, survey, and patrol work.
Buyer’s guide →Robinson R44
1993-present · Lycoming IO-540
The Robinson R44 is a four-seat piston helicopter widely used for personal transportation, flight training, and aerial tours. It is the world's best-selling GA helicopter.
Buyer’s guide →Light Jet
2 models
Cessna Citation CJ2
2000-2006 · Williams FJ44-3A
The Cessna Citation CJ2 is a light jet popular for owner-flown operations, offering jet speed and reliability with a relatively low operating cost for its class.
Buyer’s guide →Cessna Citation Mustang
2006-2017 · Pratt & Whitney PW615F
The Citation Mustang is an entry-level very light jet designed for owner-pilots. Its low acquisition cost and single-pilot certification make it accessible for private use.
Buyer’s guide →Do not see the model you are buying?
TailCheck reports are built from four federal records, so any US-registered aircraft can be looked up by tail number — including types without a guide here.
Look up a tail number