Buying guide
King Air C90 for sale: what to check before you buy
Published November 9, 2026.
The King Air C90 is a twin turboprop with examples built since the early 1970s, and there are always several for sale. Below is what the official data sheets say about the versions, what today's listings show about price and hours, and the points we ask to have checked on any C90 before an offer.
Which C90 is which
"C90" is the name of a family. All versions sit on type certificate 3A20 of the FAA, the US civil aviation authority.2 The European data sheet, from EASA, covers the versions from 1983 onwards, with these figures:1
| Version | Serials | FAA certification | Engines | Max. takeoff weight | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C90A | LJ-1063 to LJ-1753 and LJ-1755 (with exceptions) | 1983 | 2 × PT6A-21 | 9,650 lb (early serials) · 10,100 lb | 30,000 ft |
| C90GT | LJ-1727, LJ-1754, LJ-1756 on | 2005 | 2 × PT6A-135A | 10,100 lb | 30,000 ft |
| C90GTi (includes the C90GTx) | LJ-1847, LJ-1853 on | 2007 | 2 × PT6A-135A | 10,100 lb | 30,000 ft |
According to the official data sheet, all three versions require only one pilot, carry up to 13 people including the pilots, and are eligible for flight into known icing conditions when the required equipment is installed and operational.1 "C90B" and "C90GTx" are marketing names: on the data sheet, the C90B is a C90A and the C90GTx is a C90GTi.1 The original C90, which predates the C90A, is not on the European data sheet, and we could not obtain the full US data sheet. For that reason we do not publish technical data for it here.
What today's listings show
On November 9, 2026, the Controller portal listed 21 King Air C90s for sale, all of the original version, built between 1973 and 1982.3
| King Air C90 on Controller, 11/9/2026 | Figure |
|---|---|
| Listings | 21 |
| With published price | 8 |
| Asking price range | US$399,000 to 995,000 |
| Total hours (minimum, median, maximum) | 3,340 · 9,500 · 17,900 |
Asking price is not selling price, and most listings say "call for price". The C90A, C90GT and C90GTi versions sit in other categories of the portal, at higher prices.
The points we check on any C90
- The serial confirms the version. All C90s use the LJ prefix. According to the EASA data sheet, the C90A starts at serial LJ-1063.1 An aircraft listed as a "C90A" with a lower serial needs an explanation. The full routine for checking serial, registration and owner is in this post.
- Airframe hours and life limit. For the C90A and C90GT, the official data sheet sets a 13,500-hour fuselage life limit, which may no longer apply if the aircraft is maintained and inspected at the intervals required by the maintenance manual.1 On a high-time aircraft, ask for proof that this inspection programme was followed. On the original C90, ask the shop what its manual requires.
- Wing attach bolts. The official data sheet requires the wing attach bolts and nuts to be replaced within the time set by the airworthiness limitations manual.1 Check in the records when they were last replaced.
- PT6A engines. Ask for the hours since the last overhaul and since the last hot section inspection of each engine, and whether they are on a maintenance programme. Intervals depend on the engine model and the programme, so ask the shop, not the listing.
- Airworthiness directives. Check the FAA and EASA directives for the model, engines and propellers, and whether the logbooks record compliance with each one.4
- Pre-purchase inspection. Nothing replaces an inspection by an independent shop that knows the King Air, chosen by the buyer.
Is a C90 right for you?
This part is our reading as brokers. The C90 is certificated for one pilot, which sets it apart from the Citations we discussed in another post, and it operates from runways a jet cannot use. In exchange, it is slower and flies lower, with a 30,000 ft ceiling.1 For short and medium trips, from short or unpaved strips, it is often the most rational choice. You can see two examples we have listed, King Air C90 N501MS and King Air C90 N504MS.
Sources
- EASA, type certificate data sheet EASA.IM.A.503, King Air 90 (C90A, C90GT and C90GTi), issue 9, Jan. 20, 2020: easa.europa.eu
- Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, type acceptance certificate BCAA TAC 099, Textron C90 Series, FAA certificate 3A20, Jan. 13, 2026: bcaa.bm
- Controller, Beechcraft King Air C90 listings, accessed Nov. 9, 2026: controller.com
- FAA, Dynamic Regulatory System (airworthiness directives): drs.faa.gov