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Investigations

Date

Texan Jailed for Flying Without a Pilot’s License

Cornie Gene Lowe was ordered by a U.S District Court judge in Del Rio, TX, to pay a $5,000 fine and spend 6 months in jail for piloting a plane without a pilot’s license and lying to the FAA. Lowe flew as pilot-in-command from Del Rio to Ruidoso, NM, even though FAA revoked his pilot's license in December 2001. He also made false entries in airman logbooks as though he were a certified flight instructor and signed off biennial flight reviews of other pilots when he was not authorized to do so. Lowe co-owns Fontera Aviation, Inc, an aircraft fuel business at Del Rio International Airport in Texas. OIG conducted the investigation with assistance from FAA.