United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Philip Everton McPherson II, 36, of Haddon Township, NJ, has been indicted on charges related to a fatal plane crash in Lehigh County in 2022.
McPherson is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and 40 counts of serving as an airman without a certificate. The indictment alleges that McPherson acted with gross negligence when he crashed a Piper-28-140 aircraft on September 28, 2022, killing student pilot K.K.
According to the indictment, McPherson knew he was not competent to safely fly the aircraft, having had two prior accidents, failing a reexamination for his pilot’s certificate, and surrendering his certificate in October 2021. Despite this, he continued to fly with passengers, leading to the fatal crash.
McPherson faces a maximum possible sentence of 128 years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, a $10.25 million fine, and a $4,100 special assessment if convicted.
Gives new meaning to bist 120