Investigations

On February 24, 2012, Andrew Ryan Johnson of Virginia Beach, Virginia, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Norfolk, Virginia, to one count of knowingly operating an aircraft subsequent to his Commercial Pilot Certificate having been revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).   Mr. Johnson was sentenced to twenty days in jail, assessed a $100 fine, and placed on probation for one year.  While on probation, Mr. Johnson is not allowed to pilot an aircraft or conduct flight instruction. 

Our investigation revealed that in 2009, Mr. Johnson's Commercial Pilot Certificate was suspended for 120 days for giving flight instruction in an aircraft that he knew was not airworthy.  While under the 120 day suspension, Mr. Johnson flew as pilot-in-command on nine occasions.  Because of these acts, in June 2011, the FAA revoked Johnson's pilot certificate.  While Mr. Johnson's Commercial Pilot Certificate was revoked and his Flight Instructor Certificate was expired, he flew as the pilot-in-command and as a flight instructor on September 23 and September 27, 2011.  While Mr. Johnson was giving flight instruction to the pilot during the September 27 flight, the aircraft's propeller struck the runway.