Social Media Star Convicted of Faking Plane Crash for YouTube Stunt Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

A YouTube influencer who intentionally crashed his plane in California to create a thrilling video of himself parachuting to safety has been sentenced to six months in federal prison. Trevor Daniel Jacob, 30, was found guilty of obstructing a federal investigation by destroying the wreckage from the November 24, 2021, plane crash.

In December 2021, Jacob posted a video titled "I Crashed My Airplane," which purportedly showed his small plane experiencing engine failure over the mountainous Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County. The video depicted Jacob, already equipped with a parachute, jumping out of the plane while holding a selfie stick camera.

The jump and subsequent plane crash were captured by the camera Jacob was holding, as well as cameras mounted on the plane's wing and tail. After landing, Jacob hiked to the crash site and retrieved the video footage from the cameras mounted on the plane, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

The plea agreement revealed that Jacob had a pre-existing sponsorship deal to promote a company's product in a video and never intended to complete the flight.

When Jacob later informed federal investigators about the crash, he was instructed to preserve the wreckage. He initially agreed to disclose the wreckage's location but subsequently lied and claimed he was unaware of its whereabouts.

On December 10, 2021, Jacob and a friend flew to the crash site in a helicopter to gather the wreckage and transport it to another location. They then used a trailer attached to Jacob's pickup truck to move the plane parts. The plane was eventually dismantled, and the parts were discarded in trash bins.

Jacob, an experienced pilot and skydiver, had his pilot license revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2022. His sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the potential legal consequences of reckless stunts and the importance of prioritizing safety over sensational content.

[SOURCE]