Pilot Of Fatal December 2021 Helicopter Crash Sentenced In Utah

The man who piloted and crashed a helicopter in the Cosby area last December had agreed to a plea deal in Utah. The Federal Aviation Adminstration says 36 year old Matthew Jones illegally flew people on trips because he did not have a license to do so. Just before the fatal helicopter crash here, a federal judge in Utah forbid Jones from flying. However on December 29th of 2021, Jones picked up a helicopter at the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport and against advice from the grounds crew, took off in that helicopter with a female passenger. Jones moments later crashed that helicopter near the Cocke County-Sevier County line in the Cosby area in heavy fog…killing the female passenger.

On Tuesday, Jones, plead guilty in federal court in Utah to the charges placed against him before the crash happened. Jones was charged with wire fraud and flying without an airman certificate, or license. In return for his plea agreement, all other charges in the cases were dismissed. Matthew Jones was sentenced to one year in jail and credited with time already served since January 8th of this year. He was also sentenced to 36 months supervised release and will have to pay restitution to two victims.