Will Be Sentenced In U.S. District Court In March

A pilot who has spent a lifetime around airplanes but never obtained a pilot certificate has pleaded guilty to flying an airplane without a license following an accident earlier this year. Complicating matters is that Robert R. Gray Jr. has a prosthetic leg and uses a scooter or walker to get around, according to a report in the Virginian Pilot.

Gray, who lives in Suffolk, VA, was first visited by federal investigators in 2016 after rumors began to circulate that he was flying without a license. At the time, he denied any wrongdoing. He was questioned a second time by authorities in June, and he admitted that he was flying without the proper certificate, but assumed that it was legal because he was with an instructor. The FAA issued a warning at that time.

But in July, Gray was involved in an accident while landing his 1972 Piper airplane at Umphlett Airstrip (VG37), a private airport in Suffolk, VA. After touching down, it veered to the right, spun 180 degrees and impacted several small trees. The plane's landing gear, right wing and spinner were damaged.

When police arrived at the airport, Gray, who was not injured, at first denied that he was flying the airplane. But as the search began for the pilot, Gray admitted he had lied. He said he had recently sold the airplane, and wanted to fly it one last time before the new owner took possession.

A few days later, in a meeting with an FAA safety inspector, Gray took responsibility for the accident, and said he had no feeling on his right side. He suggested that his prosthetic leg had somehow become stuck on the brake, which caused the airplane to spin around.

According to the government's statement of facts: “Gray further stated that he had no business flying the plane that day as he can barely drive a car.”

Gray at one time did have a student pilot certificate, but court documents indicate while he had spent 40 years around airplanes, sometimes buying and selling used aircraft, he had been unable to obtain a private pilot certificate because of his prosthetic leg and other, unspecified medical conditions.

FMI: Original Report