Investigations
Commercial Pilot Sentenced for Flying An Aircraft While Under the Influence of Alcohol
On November 14, 2013, Paul Roessler, Federal Way, Washington, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Spokane, Washington, for flying a commercial aircraft while under the influence of alcohol. He was sentenced to 4 months home confinement, 240 hours of community service, 2 years probation, ordered to attend substance abuse evaluation and counseling and to pay a $1,500 fine.
The investigation disclosed that Roessler failed to establish contact with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center, and lined up for the wrong runway on approach. The Spokane Airport police administered a breathalyzer test to Roessler, which resulted in a reading of .109 alcohol concentration, more than twice the legal alcohol concentration limit of .04.
OIG conducted this investigation, with the assistance of the FAA.