The Pilot YouTuber Who Crashed His Plane for Likes

American stuntman, pilot and skydiver Trevor Daniel Jacob, age 29, is set to plead guilty to charges arising from intentionally crashing his plane to boost his YouTube popularity, according to a statement from the US Department of Justice. This orchestrated aerial spectacle took place on November 2021, when Jacob launched from Lompoc City Airport in US, knowing fully well that he was planning to crash his plane in the name of creating sensational video content.

Screenshot from Trevor Jacob / YouTube

Jacob, a licensed pilot, took off that day under the pretense of flying solo to Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountains. However, he had a far more dramatic and dangerous plan in mind. He had mounted several video cameras within and outside the plane, strapping himself with a parachute and a selfie stick-mounted camera. The plan? To film himself parachuting to safety while his plane hurtled downwards, providing a spectacular footage that he hoped would rake in millions of views.

About 35 minutes into the flight, as he was flying over the Los Padres National Forest near Santa Maria, Jacob put his plan into action. He ejected from the plane and started filming his descent, leaving the plane to crash into the forest below. After a successful parachute landing, he returned to the wreckage to collect the video footage.

However, Jacob’s actions extended beyond the reckless endangerment of his own life. In an effort to obstruct any ensuing federal investigation, he later concealed the crash site and systematically destroyed the plane's wreckage. Two days post-crash, Jacob reported the incident to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) but denied knowledge of the crash location. In a further deceitful move, approximately two weeks later, Jacob and an accomplice retrieved the wreckage, which was then broken up and scattered around different locations at Santa Barbara County's airport.

His video documentation of the crash, entitled "I Crashed My Airplane", was published on YouTube a month later and has since accumulated over 4 million views. The footage inevitably raised eyebrows among viewers, with many speculating on the authenticity of the crash. These suspicions were stoked by Jacob’s questionable behaviors, such as the seemingly prepared parachute exit and a complete lack of effort to safely land the failing plane.

It was only a matter of time before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NTSB started investigating Jacob's incident, fueled by the skeptical public and the discrepancies in Jacob’s narrative. Their investigation resulted in the FAA revoking Jacob's pilot license in 2022.

Jacob, who has since admitted his intentions, is charged with one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Despite the publicity he gained from his daring stunt, the ramifications of his actions have demonstrated a sobering reality: that the quest for viral internet fame can lead to grave consequences. As Jacob awaits his court appearance, his case serves as a cautionary tale against reckless pursuits of online notoriety.

As the fallout from his ill-conceived stunt became clear, Jacob's narrative crumbled. Initially, he claimed a power failure as the cause of the crash and stated he had been forced to parachute to safety. However, investigators found no evidence of him attempting to call air traffic control, restart his engine, or even search for a safe place to land. These details, coupled with his premeditated recording equipment setup, and his retrieval and subsequent destruction of the plane's wreckage, painted a vastly different picture.

Jacob's arrest and the subsequent legal proceedings cast a harsh spotlight on the perilous extremes some content creators might go to for online fame. This reckless disregard for personal safety and federal law illustrates a worrying trend, fueled by the ceaseless demand for evermore sensational content in the digital age.

Despite garnering the views he sought, Jacob's video also drew skepticism from viewers. Many commented on the strange circumstances surrounding the crash, noting that it was odd for a pilot to be wearing a parachute and have a camera at hand, with no apparent attempt to save the aircraft.

As news of Jacob's exploits and his subsequent arrest spread, reactions from the public were mixed. Some expressed disbelief at the lengths he went to for viral fame, while others voiced concern about the dangerous precedent this might set for other thrill-seeking YouTubers.

However, the most significant consequence of this whole debacle is undoubtedly the legal repercussions. Jacob has agreed to plead guilty to obstruction of a federal investigation, a serious charge carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Furthermore, in 2022, the FAA responded by revoking his pilot license, effectively grounding his aerial ambitions.

Jacob's tale is a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in the relentless pursuit of internet fame. While social media platforms can provide a stage for creativity and expression, they can also incite dangerous behavior if misused. As this case demonstrates, the desire for likes, shares, and views should never eclipse personal safety or the law.