After months of searching a "local" (I'm in Durango) straight tail 182 with low hours finally popped up.

http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_1055688_1958+Cessna+Skylane+182.html

The engine and prop were overhauled in 2007. I did a NTSB/FAA search and it came up clean.

Insurance quotes, price negotiations, deposit (in escrow) and pre-buy are the obvious next steps.

Feel free to arm chair appraise, inspect, etc. Are there any red flags?

Aaron

Looks good. Some older avionics... Nothing special there.
Who overhauled the engine? That part can get expensive faster then anything.

The most important step, if you haven't already done so, is to have a competent mechanic, who you trust, perform a thorough pre-buy inspection.

THEN you start the negotiations, etc.

MTV

Not sure if the "As is, where is" is a cause for more scrutiny. But like Mike said, have a competent mechanic You trust to inspect it and inspect recent log book entries. Thoroughly inspect the firewall, too.

Looks like a nice plane for a good price. Good luck.

58Skylane wrote: Not sure if the "As is, where is" is a cause for more scrutiny....

You can't believe what some would-be airplane buyers (aka tire-kickers) come up with: "fly it to me", "fly it to my mechanic", "install some radios", whatever. I don't know that I'd put "as is, where is" in my ad, but that's sure the conditions when I sell an airplane. I'd had people look at an airplane I had for sale, point out all the less-than-perfect things, then want to do a line-item deduction for each one. I tell them that it's priced with all that in mind-- make an "as is, where is" offer (or don't) and we'll go from there.

hotrod180 wrote:

58Skylane wrote: Not sure if the "As is, where is" is a cause for more scrutiny....

You can't believe what some would-be airplane buyers (aka tire-kickers) come up with: "fly it to me", "fly it to my mechanic", "install some radios", whatever. I don't know that I'd put "as is, where is" in my ad, but that's sure the conditions when I sell an airplane. I'd had people look at an airplane I had for sale, point out all the less-than-perfect things, then want to do a line-item deduction for each one. I tell them that it's priced with all that in mind-- make an "as is, where is" offer (or don't) and we'll go from there.

I see. Makes good sense to me now. But like you, I probably wouldn't put that phrase in my ad at first, too.

Looks good except for the long nose McCauley spinner for that airframe. If I were looking for a straight tail 182 and could be in the mid 4oK range I would step up and hold out for a 1959. There are a few out there and will be more to come.

In addition to the advice already given.....just have Your mechanic check for corrosion and undocumented damage. Straight tails, or any 182 for that matter, are definitive planes. They'll do 90% for 90% of us. Looks like a nice plane.

Bill

mountainwagon wrote:..... If I were looking for a straight tail 182 and could be in the mid 4oK range I would step up and hold out for a 1959......

What's the big advantage of a 59 over a 58?
Not sure when they started putting cowl flaps on the 182-- looks like this one doesn't have them, but to me that's a wash.
I'm sure it cools just fine, just might have a little more drag and so slightly lower cruise speed....but maybe not so much that the average person would notice.

No big advantage, just a sleeker cowling with cowl flaps and a panel layout with radio's on top.

Little bit more than I would pay - I'd think more like high mid 20's to mid 30's . Get a good prebuy by a mechanic you choose and pay . DO Not use sellers A&P as a recommendation .Overall not a bad choice but not not perfect either .Yes I do prebuy-annual-weight and Annuals and own4 Straight tail 180/182 myself. Contact me at [email protected] or [email protected] with your cell phone number and we will talk.