Summary

On April 26, 2013, Paul Roessler, FAA certified commercial pilot, was convicted in a jury trial in United States District Court, Spokane, Washington, for flying an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol.

In April 2012, we received a referral from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when Roessler was suspected of flying under the influence of alcohol.  Roessler failed to establish contact with the FAA's Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), 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.

We are investigating this case with the assistance of FAA.