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A Texas man who admitted falsifying aircraft maintenance records and flying an unairworthy airplane for years was sentenced to probation this month in federal court, authorities said.
Patrick Lyons was sentenced Jan. 7 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to one year of probation. In addition to his one-year probation, he was also fined $1,000 and a $100 special assessment, according to court records.
Lyons was charged back in Sept. 2025 and pleaded guilty on Oct. 23. 2025 for making and using a false statement in aircraft maintenance records.
According to investigators, Lyons repeatedly operated the aircraft over several years despite not holding a valid medical certificate and without completing the required annual inspection. Federal regulations require aircraft to undergo regular inspections to ensure they meet safety standards before being flown.
Officials did not release what kind of aircraft Lyons was operating.
Authorities said that after the aircraft was involved in an accident, Lyons attempted to conceal the lack of a proper inspection by submitting fraudulent maintenance documentation. Investigators determined he forged another mechanic's certificate number and signature on an annual inspection record and then presented the falsified paperwork to the FAA.
In addition to the forged documents, officials also said Lyons made multiple false verbal statements to FAA officials regarding the aircraft's inspection status.
Federal prosecutors did not release details about the nature of the accident or whether anyone was injured. Court records also did not specify how many flights Lyons conducted while the aircraft was deemed unairworthy.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General with assistance from the FAA.
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