Find my dad's old airplane?

cowman

cowman

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Many years ago, before I was born my dad used to fly a Cessna 180. He sold it before I was born and I never got to see it but he always had fond memories.

Several years back he told me the tail number and I popped it into google and found it somewhere in Alaska.

Somewhere, I think there's still a printout of that info with the tail# but I can't find it. My dad's health has declined and he can't remember the tail number anymore. I'm kicking myself for not saving it somewhere better where I could find it.

Is there any kind of searchable database for this kind of thing... or something some kind person on here might be able to search through that I can't.

I don't know the ownership period for sure, but it's probably sometime in the 60s or 70s.

I'd like to be able to find the current owner and see if it's still in operation. Maybe get a picture of it I could show my dad.
 
You'll still need the tail number for either of those searches. Can you find his old pilot logbook? He could ask for his pilot file from the FAA, there might be some information in there.
 
The problem is a 180 now in Alaska isn't much help. There are more 180s in Alaska than in any other state. Probably a quarter of them are up there.
 
He did have a registered airstrip(fancy name for our cow pasture) and I am able to find it on a google search so it much be in some DB somewhere. Any chance the airplane might have been tied into that.

I bet one of these days the printout with that # on it turns up, but I've already searched through all the obvious spots.
 
Logbook is the best bet. You'll probably find most of his entries in that plane, if you can find it.
 
flyingron said:
The problem is a 180 now in Alaska isn't much help. There are more 180s in Alaska than in any other state. Probably a quarter of them are up there.
Click to expand...

And maybe a third of them are properly registered... :lol:
 
Might he have some old records with a bill of sale somewhere? Serial number would be better than an N-number, since so many airplanes have had N-numbers changed over the years.

With a serial number you can search the registration database of FAA -- and of Canada, which is where I found my dad's old C-150E in a similar search.
 
cowman said:
Many years ago, before I was born my dad used to fly a Cessna 180. He sold it before I was born and I never got to see it but he always had fond memories.

Several years back he told me the tail number and I popped it into google and found it somewhere in Alaska.

Somewhere, I think there's still a printout of that info with the tail# but I can't find it. My dad's health has declined and he can't remember the tail number anymore. I'm kicking myself for not saving it somewhere better where I could find it.

Is there any kind of searchable database for this kind of thing... or something some kind person on here might be able to search through that I can't.

I don't know the ownership period for sure, but it's probably sometime in the 60s or 70s.

I'd like to be able to find the current owner and see if it's still in operation. Maybe get a picture of it I could show my dad.
Click to expand...

Tail number could be on another airplane now. See if you can find a serial number as well.
 
I'll keep looking, but 30+ years and 4 moves tend to make stuff like that disappear :(
 
I found the old sheet I printed out with the tail number he gave me!
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=2848A

This all looks right, I don't really have a serial number to verify it. I'm gonna try contacting that company and see if they would be nice enough to see if they had any log books with his name in them... that would be awesome.

In the meantime a quick google search found pics of the airplane in question...

ERK_0180.jpg

This is really cool.
 
Enter the tail number in the registry search. That's free. That will get you the serial number. Then you can order up the aircraft records from the FAA on cd for ten bucks and verify that he was the registered owner and find the current owner. Contact them and see if the will sell the plane to you or give him one last ride.
 
RJM62 said:
And maybe a third of them are properly registered... :lol:
Click to expand...

Some thing tells me that you haven't been to Alaska since the conception of the FAA Anchorage FSDO.

If you can land a C-180 anywhere so can the state or feds.

Alaska isn't the back woods like many think.
 
Tom-D said:
Some thing tells me that you haven't been to Alaska since the conception of the FAA Anchorage FSDO.

If you can land a C-180 anywhere so can the state or feds.

Alaska isn't the back woods like many think.
Click to expand...

Which part? The part that if you overlayed the the state on the lower 48 that would be in San Diego or the part that would be in Jacksonville?

Yep, order the $10 CD on the plane and lull have all the registration history and 337s on the plane, well all the ones the FAA managed to keep up with and digitize. The CDs I've ordered seem complete.
 
soyAnarchisto said:
Enter the tail number in the registry search. That's free. That will get you the serial number. Then you can order up the aircraft records from the FAA on cd for ten bucks and verify that he was the registered owner and find the current owner. Contact them and see if the will sell the plane to you or give him one last ride.
Click to expand...

Did you note who owns it?

A guide service........ you bet they will give you a ride in it, just bring money, :)
 
bartmc said:
Which part?
Click to expand...

The part where the FAA has jurisdiction.

The troopers see some thing that attracts their attention, they will follow you home. When things are not as they should be with your aircraft and you, they will issue the violation on the spot.

Ramp check Alaskan style.
 
Congrats on finding it!
Just curious, what's the purpose of the trailing wheels behind the skis? Don't see too many of these in the deep south.
 
brentee said:
Congrats on finding it!
Just curious, what's the purpose of the trailing wheels behind the skis? Don't see too many of these in the deep south.
Click to expand...

They will touch the ground first and allow the ski to align to the aircraft's track.

Also, the hold the rear of the ski off dry ground, the tire actually is holding the ski off the ground about 1".

there is a bungee that holds the front tip higher than the rest of the ski, if there isn't some thing to stretch the bungee the rear of the ski will drag.
 
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Tom-D said:
Did you note who owns it?

A guide service........ you bet they will give you a ride in it, just bring money, :)
Click to expand...

Isn't everyone with an airplane up there a "guide"? Haha. Even if they've only been there one season?
 
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