What the free lookup includes
- FAA registration status, serial number, make, model and year
- Registration and airworthiness certificate dates, engine and Mode S code
- Registered owner name, city and state, as published by the FAA
- NTSB accident and incident records filed under the N-number, with damage and injury level
What it doesn't include
The free lookup is not a title search. It doesn't show liens or security interests, the chain of title, International Registry interests, Airworthiness Directive compliance or logbook history. Those require the aircraft's FAA records file and a title examiner's review.
Order a title & lien search
We don't sell aircraft title searches yet and won't take payment for one until we can deliver it. Here are the real options today:
- FAA aircraft records (do it yourself). The FAA Aircraft Registration Branch will send the aircraft's records file, including bills of sale, recorded liens and releases. As published by the FAA, a CD-ROM of one aircraft's records is $10, paper copies are $0.10 a page (files average about 76 pages), and certification costs $10 more if you need it. Request online, by mail or by fax from the FAA's records request page.
- Recent filings (free). The FAA's Document Index inquiry lists documents the Registry has received for an N-number in about the last 180 days. It's useful for spotting a pending sale or lien that isn't in the file yet.
- Aircraft title company. For a purchase, an aircraft title company (most are in Oklahoma City, where the FAA Registry is) examines the file and reports open liens and title defects. It can also search the International Registry for Cape Town interests and handle escrow and closing. Examples include AIC Title Service, Insured Aircraft Title Service and Aero-Space Reports. Each company quotes its own price, so ask for a quote.
- Aviation attorney. For complex or high-value deals, have an aviation attorney review the title report.
Want us to do it? We're working on an examiner-reviewed title, lien and records report. Join the waitlist and we'll tell you when it launches. We take no payment until then.
Join the title & lien report waitlist
N-numbers can be reassigned to different aircraft over time, so always match the serial number, make and model. Public-record data may be incomplete or delayed. This page is general information, not legal advice. Vin Facts Check is not affiliated with the FAA or NTSB.