TTA Cherokee Driver wrote in message ...
But (at least in the state where I live) the seller of a car is required
by law to voluntarily disclose any accident damage exceeding 25% of the
vehicle's value. sounds like that people don't seem to think the same
standard applies to airplanes.

I don't know what 'people' think, but if the accident damage was not
"disclosed", how did the original poster find out about it?

What I think you're missing is the issue doesn't seem to be one
of not disclosing major damage. The issue is when and how it was
disclosed. The seller didn't volunteer the information on the
phone. The buyer either found out from the maintenance records
or was told when he looked at the plane/asked questions.

Those laws in your state require you to burble out every negative
thing/"whole laundry list of problems" to everyone who calls
and expresses interest in your car/building, before they even
come look? Even if they don't ask?

Suppose I have a car which was rear-ended. It was properly repaired
by a reputable shop, drives perfectly, and there's no way to tell by
looking at it. On the phone, you don't ask me if it's ever been in
an accident and I don't volunteer the info. You come, look at my car,
drive it. I say "it was rear-ended in '99 and repaired by XXX" (or maybe
I offer you a written document which provides this information and give
you a chance to read it) You either make me an offer or go away at
that point.

Is that unethical? Is that against the disclosure laws in your state?

So in both of the above cases, if hte seller were selling a car or a
building, what he did would be either illegal, or very questionable in
legality.

How so? Are you saying the laws in your state require you to volunteer
every negative piece of information you have about an item you're selling,
to everyone who calls or emails you? Or even in your state, are you just
required to disclose it at some point before the potential purchaser
makes an offer?

Cheers,
Sydney