REVIEW OF PILOT DEATH
Joseph BRINELL (1999)
FAA Harassed Pilot of Fatal CJ Crash (www.flyingmag.com) Missouri pilot Joseph BRINELL harassed by the FAA...who had “abused their authority” (see Aftermath, November 2001) Died in CJ crash ”In November 1999 the Kansas City FSDO told Brinell to turn in his logbooks for examination, as he was under investigation for allegedly conducting two check rides in an aircraft for which he was not authorized. (Cessna 310) The FSDO also invalidated the results of those check rides.
Tragically, Brinell never had the chance to turn in his logbooks. …three days before the December 9th accident in which he died, Brinell was so worried about the ongoing investigation that he hadn’t gotten a full night’s sleep. The FDSO supervisor who requested the logbooks is quoted in the OIG Report as saying he was simply trying to help Brinell by finding the missing authorizations, a claim on which the OIG report casts doubt. In fact, the OIG found that the FSDO had lost track of its own paperwork documenting the fact that Brinell was indeed authorized to conduct tests in the 310.
The investigation found that “the FSDO Supervisor and Principal Operations Inspector were remiss in their oversight of Mr. Brinell and their actions give rise to al least the appearance that Mr. Brinell was being harassed. Mr. Brinell clearly perceived that he was being singled out and unfairly treated. Our finding support the NTSB’s conclusion that the FAA had induced stress in Mr. Brinell.
His widow had raised the concerns with her congressman.