Story ID: 
NTSB overturns FAA certificate revocation
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: In an unusual move, the NTSB reversed an FAA emergency certificate revocation against Michael Tarascio, owner and former chief pilot of Air East Management
Word Count: 125
In an unusual move, the NTSB reversed an FAA emergency certificate revocation against Michael Tarascio, owner and former chief pilot of Air East Management, a Long Island, N.Y. charter firm. The FAA pulled Tarascio’s ATP and A&P mechanic certificates in the wake of the Aug. 4, 2003, fatal crash of a company-managed Learjet 35A in Groton, Conn. (see page 140). The FAA later accused Tarascio of making false entries in aircraft maintenance logs, and on August 10 issued its emergency revocation order. But less than five weeks later, an NTSB law judge overturned the order, saying there was no proof Tarascio violated any regulations. “This is a rare decision,” said Gregory Winton, Tarascio’s attorney. “Only one percent of emergency orders of revocation are reversed.”