Uncertified Flight Instructor Sentenced to 78 Months for Fatal Crash

Federal Court Sentences Uncertified Flight Instructor

U.S. District Judge John M. Gallagher sentenced Philip Everton McPherson II to 78 months in federal prison June 11, 2026, after McPherson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and related charges. The case stems from a 2022 fatal aircraft accident that killed student pilot Keith Kozel, 49, a father of two. Court records show McPherson had been providing flight instruction without a valid certificate — logging 79 hours of instruction across 42 flights while uncertified. His certificates had previously been revoked for a "lack of demonstrated competence," yet he continued operating as an instructor. The fatal flight ended when the aircraft experienced weak engine power during takeoff and struck trees.

Industry Ban and Full Sentencing Terms

Beyond the prison term, Judge Gallagher imposed three years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine, $19,530 in restitution, and a lifetime ban from the aviation industry. McPherson pleaded guilty in October 2025 to 43 of 44 charges; prosecutors dropped one count of conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration. Nouman Saleem, owner of the flight school involved, also pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and obstruction.

The case has drawn attention to credential-verification gaps in flight training. Kozel was reportedly unaware that his instructor's certificates had been surrendered nearly a year before the fatal accident — a lapse that safety advocates say highlights the need for stronger oversight mechanisms at flight schools operating under FAA oversight.