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There are thousands of perfectly good airplanes sitting in hangars across Texas right now, slowly losing value. The engines are corroding, the annuals are lapsed, the avionics are going obsolete — and the owners keep paying $300, $400, $500 a month in hangar rent for a plane they haven’t flown in years.

Why Does This Happen?

• Medical issues. A pilot loses their medical certificate and can’t fly anymore, but can’t bring themselves to sell.
• Life changes. Kids, career moves, retirement to a place with no airport nearby.
• It needs work. The annual found something expensive. Easier to close the hangar door and think about it later.
• Emotional attachment. This was Dad’s plane. Or it was their dream plane. Selling feels like giving up.
• The hassle factor. Listing on Trade-A-Plane, dealing with lowball offers, tire-kickers, and buyers who want a test flight before they commit.

The Math Nobody Wants to Do

Let’s say you have a Cessna 182 worth about $100,000, sitting in a hangar for 3 years at $400/month:

• Hangar rent: $14,400
• Insurance (even ground-only): ~$3,000
• Value depreciation (aging engine, lapsed annual, outdated avionics): $10,000–$20,000
• Total cost of waiting: $27,400 – $37,400

That’s 25-37% of the plane’s value, gone — for the privilege of not making a decision.

What Should You Do?

1. Get a cash offer. Companies like ours will buy it as-is — expired annual, flat tires, dead battery, we don’t care. You stop the bleeding immediately.
2. Consign it. Let a broker handle the sale. You’ll wait longer but potentially get more.
3. Fly it. If you still love aviation, get the annual done, dust it off, and go fly. That’s what it was built for.
4. Share it. Join a flying club or partnership. Split the costs and actually use the airplane.

The worst option? Keep paying hangar rent on a plane you’re not flying.

Ready to Talk About It?

No pressure, no judgment. We’ve been on both sides of this conversation. Call us for a free, honest valuation and we’ll help you figure out the right move.

What’s my plane worth? Get a free valuation →

When a pilot passes away, their airplane often becomes one of the most complicated assets for the family to deal with. Unlike a car or a house, most people have no idea how to sell, transfer, or even value an aircraft.

If you’ve inherited a plane — or you’re the executor of an estate that includes one — here’s a straightforward guide to your options.

Step 1: Don’t Panic (And Don’t Move the Plane Yet)

The aircraft is almost certainly insured — or it should be. Check for an active insurance policy. If the policy lapsed, don’t fly the plane or let anyone else fly it until you figure out next steps.

Leave the plane where it is for now. If it’s in a hangar, keep paying the rent (usually $200–$500/month at a small airport). If it’s on a tiedown, the cost is minimal.

Step 2: Find the Key Documents

Look for these in the pilot’s files:

• Aircraft logbooks (airframe, engine, propeller) — These are the aircraft’s medical records. Without them, the value drops significantly.
• Title/bill of sale — FAA Form 8050-2
• Registration certificate — The white card that should be in the plane
• Insurance policy
• Annual inspection records (may be in the airframe logbook)

If you can’t find the logbooks, don’t panic — we can help navigate that situation too.

Step 3: Understand Your Options

1. Sell it to a direct buyer (like us) — Fastest and simplest. We make a cash offer, handle all the FAA paperwork, and close quickly.
2. List it on consignment — A broker lists and markets the plane for you. Higher price potential, but takes longer.
3. Keep it — If someone in the family wants to fly, they can transfer the registration. This is rare, but it happens.

Step 4: Transfer the Registration

The FAA requires specific documents to transfer a deceased person’s aircraft registration:

• With probate: The executor can sign an FAA bill of sale on behalf of the estate. You’ll need letters testamentary and the death certificate.
• Without probate: More complicated. May need a small estate affidavit or a court order. We can guide you through this.

Step 5: Get a Fair Valuation

Aircraft values depend on make, model, year, total time, engine time, avionics, and condition. We offer free, no-obligation valuations for estate aircraft. We’ll tell you honestly what the plane is worth — even if you decide not to sell to us.

The Bottom Line

Dealing with an inherited airplane doesn’t have to be stressful. The most important thing is to not rush into a bad decision. Take your time, find the documents, and talk to someone who knows the process.

We specialize in exactly this situation. If you have questions — about anything — call us. We’re happy to help, even if we don’t end up buying the plane.

Contact us about an estate aircraft →

If you own a mid-1970s Cessna 172 Skyhawk, you’re sitting on one of the most popular aircraft in the world. But what’s it actually worth today?

The Short Answer

Depending on condition, total time, engine time, avionics, and paint/interior, a 1975 Cessna 172M typically sells for $45,000 to $95,000 in 2026.

What Drives the Price

• Total Time (TT): Lower is better. A 3,000-hour airframe commands more than a 7,000-hour one, but high-time 172s still sell well because buyers trust the airframe.
• Engine Time Since Major Overhaul (SMOH): A freshly overhauled O-320 adds $15,000–$25,000 in value. A run-out engine drops the price significantly.
• Avionics: A basic six-pack? That’s the low end. Add a Garmin GNS 430W or GTN 650, ADS-B Out, and an autopilot, and you’re at the top of the range.
• Annual status: Current annual means ready to fly. Expired annual means the buyer has to invest in an inspection — and whatever it turns up.
• Paint and interior: Cosmetics matter less than mechanicals, but a ratty interior can knock 10-15% off.

The 172 Market in 2026

The Cessna 172 is the most produced aircraft in history — over 44,000 built. That means there are always buyers AND sellers. The market is liquid, prices are stable, and a well-maintained 172 sells quickly.

Prices have been on a steady upward trend since 2020. New-production Cessna 172S Skyhawks list for $400,000+, which keeps pushing used prices up. A 50-year-old 172M for $70,000 looks like a bargain compared to $400K for a new one.

Thinking About Selling?

If you’ve owned a 172 for years and you’re wondering what it’s worth, we can give you a free market evaluation. No obligation — just honest numbers based on current comparable sales.

Get a free valuation on your Cessna 172 →