YouTube influencer Trevor Jacob has pleaded guilty to the charge of “obstructing a federal investigation” after deliberately crashing his small single-engine plane in California’s Los Padres national forest on November 21. The 29-year-old, known for his YouTube channel, could face up to 20 years in federal prison, according to a statement by the US Department of Justice.
Jacob orchestrated the stunt in an attempt to garner more views on his YouTube channel. He parachuted out of the plane before it crashed, initially claiming to investigators that the aircraft had lost power and he was unaware of its whereabouts. However, federal authorities discovered that his claims lacked evidence, as he did not make any effort to contact air traffic control, restart the engine, or search for a safe landing spot.
The influencer, who identified himself as an experienced pilot and skydiver, confessed in his plea agreement that he never intended to complete his solo flight from Lompoc airport in southern California to Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Prior to takeoff, Jacob installed multiple video cameras on the plane and equipped himself with a parachute, video camera, and selfie stick.
After jumping from the plane approximately 35 minutes into the flight, he filmed the aircraft as it crashed into the dry brush below. Jacob then hiked to the crash site and retrieved the footage. Two days later, he informed the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about the crash but claimed ignorance regarding the location of the wreckage during investigations conducted by the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration.
In December 2021, Jacob and a friend towed the crashed plane to Santa Barbara County and placed it in a hangar. Over several days, he destroyed sections of the aircraft and disposed of the parts in various trash cans around the airport to mislead investigators. Jacob uploaded a video titled “I Crashed My Plane” to YouTube on December 23, 2021, which has since accumulated nearly 3 million views.
The FAA revoked Jacob’s pilot license in April 2022 following their investigation. Jacob is set to be sentenced on August 8, 2022.
