PHILADELPHIA, PA — United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Philip Everton McPherson II, 36, of Haddon Township, NJ, has been indicted this week on one count of involuntary manslaughter and 40 counts of serving as an airman without a certificate. These charges are linked to a 2022 plane crash in Lehigh County that resulted in the death of a student pilot.
According to the indictment, on September 28, 2022, McPherson was the pilot-in-command of a Piper-28-140 aircraft that took off from Queen City Airport in Allentown, PA. The flight ended in tragedy when McPherson crashed the plane shortly after takeoff, killing student pilot K.K.
The indictment alleges that McPherson acted with gross negligence. It states that he was aware he was not competent to safely fly an aircraft. McPherson had two prior accidents and narrowly avoided a third. He failed a reexamination for his pilot’s certificate on September 29, 2021, due to a lack of demonstrated competence. On October 7, 2021, he voluntarily surrendered his pilot’s certificate, acknowledging his lack of competence. His Temporary Airman Certificate expired on November 8, 2021, further confirming his inability to demonstrate safe flying skills to the FAA.
Additionally, McPherson faces 40 counts of illegally serving as the pilot-in-command of an aircraft with passengers while not holding an FAA pilot’s certificate. These incidents occurred between October 12, 2021, and September 20, 2022.
If convicted, McPherson could face up to 128 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $10.25 million fine, and a $4,100 special assessment.
The United States Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Schopf and Special Assistant United States Attorney Marie Miller are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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