Mugshot from WBIR
Self-proclaimed flight instructor Matthew Jones pleaded guilty earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Utah to wire fraud and for acting as a pilot without an airman certificate. Jones was first indicted in October 2021 for wire fraud and was ordered to not operate a fixed-wing aircraft without a valid FAA airman’s certificate. He was indicted again on August 10 and aircraft registration violations were added to his list of crimes.
The original indictment stated that Jones had made false claims on social media that he was a CFI and had signed a contract with an individual looking to achieve fixed-wing and rotary-wing ratings. Jones had also withdrawn $10,000 from a bank account that was meant for flight instruction purposes and used the stolen money for his own needs like rent, a cell phone and other shopping expenses.
After the October indictment, Jones violated his court-ordered conditions by continuing the operation of a fixed-wing aircraft without his FAA airman’s certificate. He had continued his claims of being a CFI and started an LLC with two other individuals, planning to provide charter flights and flight lessons to people seeking an airman’s certificate, which Jones did not possess.
While under instruction not to fly, Jones was involved in a crash near Cosby, Tennessee on Dec. 29, 2021. While operating a Robinson R-44 II, assigned N544SC and registered to November Alpha LLC, he ignored the warnings from locals and service center employees and flew into the Smoky Mountains in foggy conditions.
According to the NTSB preliminary report, Jones had had many conversations with personnel at the service center who warned him of the dangers of flying in the Smoky Mountains in poor weather and one member even showed him a book from their training room filled with CFIT accidents in the area.
Jones responded “those are hills” and said he had 14 years of experience flying in mountains. A local helicopter air ambulance pilot even met with him to ask about his plans.
Jones initially planned on heading toward Asheville, North Carolina and following Interstate 40 to Raleigh. He was warned of power lines over the interstate and told the mountains were 6,000 feet. Jones was told by the pilot “there was no way he would make it there” the NTSB report said.
The report stated that Jones flew easterly/southeasterly between 1,200 ft and 1,750 ft altitude and an eyewitness camping in the area said they heard the copter coming and witnessed it flying out of the fog and then hit trees. The aircraft crashed, killing the passenger and seriously injuring Jones.
KSLTV said the U.S. Attorney’s office confirmed he should not have been flying an aircraft, let alone in the state of Tennessee because he was facing federal prosecution in Utah. The passenger, Juli Wagner, and Jones had recently started dating and were planning to open a helicopter tour business.
On Dec. 6, Jones pleaded guilty. WBIR news said Jones accepted the plea deal and pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and two counts of operating as an airman without an airman certificate. Per his deal, he will have other charges dropped and serve one year in custody with a credit for the time he has served since Jan. 8, 2022. Following his release, he will be under supervision for 36 months. WBIR said he will be forced to pay back almost $40,000 in restitution to two people.
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Man indicted twice in less than a year for operating without an airman’s certificate
According to WBIR, Jones originally faced 16 counts before the crash in 2021. Jones had a history of seizures and should not have been operating the aircraft and only days before the crash he was told not to operate any aircraft, WBIR said.
Jones had schemed $10,000 from an individual who wanted him to give lessons to his son. An additional almost $30,000 from another individual who worked with Jones to create a company to provide helicopter pilot certification and other flight services. Both individuals will be paid restitution as part of the agreement.
Additionally, it was found that Jones had not disclosed his medical history of seizures, strokes and marijuana use when he sent in documents to the FAA, WBIR said. Jones recovered from the helicopter crash before facing the court again.
Jones ultimately schemed people out of nearly $40,000 and his attitude and actions led to the death of one person.
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