FAA website disclaimer:
The information contained in this record should be the most current Airworthiness information available in the historical aircraft record. However, this data alone does not provide the basis for a determination regarding the airworthiness of an aircraft or the current aircraft configuration. For specific information, you may request a copy of the aircraft record at http://aircraft.faa.gov/e.gov/ND/
I saw their disclaimer earlier, also their January 22 backlog date. Still, despite all this, one can NOT just peel off the tail number and stick it on another plane. They might be late, but the fact is the owner can’t do it without FAA authority and approval. All that stuff, serial number, model number, manufacturer, owner, ALL has to be correct. The FAA will not cancel a current registration without reason. Current being, sold, salvaged, crashed, inoperable. That comes from the owner, not the news media. If a registration is past due, they will still make an effort and not automatically give to another plane owner. Not going to happen. It couldn’t happen. Imagine the chaos if no one had to file a thing and the FAA didn’t care?