Summary

On April 23, 2008, Brian D. Snyder, the owner and operator of aircraft repair business, Smooth Landings Inc., pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to fraud involving aircraft parts and interstate transportation of stolen property. Mr. Snyder admitted that he falsified numerous entries involving required inspections and repairs in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulated aircraft logbooks. Mr. Snyder admitted that he forged the names of licensed mechanics, back–dated entries, and falsified entries to conceal thefts and unauthorized replacement of parts on aircraft he repaired. Mr. Snyder falsified approximately 247 entries involving 66 separate aircraft between November 2002 and January 2008, and admitted that he stole, transported and sold a Piper PA–32 aircraft from a Ft. Lauderdale airport to Elysburg, Pennsylvania. FAA has established a process to notify and advise the victims of any safety hazards related to Mr. Snyder’s criminal conduct. A sentence hearing has been scheduled for July 22, 2008.