Investigations

On January 30, 2019, Nelson Gomez pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Brooklyn, New York, to a providing flight instruction without an airman’s certificate. Gomez was arrested on September 12, 2018, and indicted on November 13, 2018.

 

The investigation revealed that after FAA inquired about a February 20, 2016, aircraft accident in which Gomez was the pilot in command, he voluntarily surrendered his certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate. Although no longer authorized to do so, Gomez later provided flight instruction in return for compensation. He also falsified flight logbooks for student pilots on approximately 30 flights, using a bogus CFI certificate expiration date and omitting required information.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with assistance from FAA’s Flight Standards District Office; the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, is prosecuting the case.