How to Buy an Aircraft Safely

Here are the steps to take in transitioning your new airplane properly and cautiously.

Max Trescott

Monday, April 28, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Your goal for that first hundred hours should be to get plenty of flight instruction and gradually expand the envelope of conditions in which you'll fly. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots face a significantly increased risk of accidents with newly purchased aircraft, particularly during initial flights or delivery, often due to unfamiliarity with the specific type.
It is crucial to budget for and obtain expert transition training from instructors highly experienced in the specific aircraft model, rather than relying on general CFI knowledge.
To mitigate risks, bring another pilot with specific aircraft type experience for the delivery flight, leverage resources like type clubs and factory-trained specialists, and plan carefully for external factors such as fatigue, weather, and appropriate fuel stops.

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One of the major ways that pilots learn about safety is by reading about accidents. And years ago, I noticed a number of aircraft accidents involving newly purchased aircraft.

So, I did a search of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) database using phrases such as “recently purchased,” and sure enough, I found a boatload of accident reports. So many in fact that I created a presentation that I gave several times called, “How to Buy an Airplane and Not Crash on the Way Home.”