Controversial Aircraft Dealer Dies

Glen F. Nickerman, a controversial figure in San Gabriel Valley aviation for more than 20 years, has died, apperently of a heart attack.

A funeral service was held Tuesday morning for Nickerman, owner of G & H Aircraft Inc. at El Monte Airport. He was stricken at his San Gabriel home last Thursday evening and died early Friday morning at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, authorities said. He was buried at Resurrection Cemetery in South San Gabriel.

Nickerman, 56, faced a barrage of legal problems at the time of his death.

He had been scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing next Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court on 24 felony charges involving G & H Aircraft, which buys and sells airplanes and operates a flight school and maintenance shop. The charges, which included grand theft and forgery, grew out of a yearlong investigation by the El Monte Police Department and the district attorney’s office.

Nickerman was accused of selling aircraft with liens against them without telling the new owners. Detective John Eckler of the El Monte Police Department said 16 victims lost about $322,000 in the transactions.

At his arraignment, Nickerman had pleaded innocent to the 24 charges.

Law enforcement sources said Nickerman also was the subject of an FBI investigation in connection with a bank loan application, but an FBI spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the information.

In January, Nickerman pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor tax charges; he was placed on three years probation and ordered to pay nearly $17,000 in fines, penalties, back taxes and interest.

The county, which owns El Monte Airport, where G & H Aircraft has operated since 1962, has been trying to evict Nickerman’s firm since January. An airport official said the county had obtained an eviction order effective today.

In addition, Nickerman’s company has been the target of numerous civil lawsuits over the years alleging that it sold unsafe aircraft and engaged in fraudulent business practices. G & H lost four suits, settled three and several others are pending.