Investigations
New York Pilot Indicted for Providing Flight Instruction Without an Airman’s Certificate
On November 13, 2018, Nelson Gomez was indicted in U.S. District Court, Brooklyn, New York, for providing flight instruction without a valid airman’s certificate. Gomez was arrested on September 12, 2018, following a criminal complaint.
The investigation revealed that Gomez voluntarily surrendered his certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate to FAA following FAA’s inquiry into an aircraft accident on February 20, 2016 in which Gomez was the Pilot in Command. While no longer authorized, Gomez allegedly provided flight instruction for compensation and falsified flight logbooks for student pilots on approximately 30 separate flights using a bogus CFI certificate expiration date and omitting required information in the student’s logbooks.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York.
Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.