Edhat Staff
Santa Barbara County Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison for Obstructing Federal Probe into Plane Crash He Posted on YouTube
A YouTuber pilot was sentenced Monday to six months in federal prison for obstructing a federal investigation by deliberately destroying the wreckage of an airplane that he intentionally crashed in Santa Barbara County to gain online views.
Trevor Daniel Jacob, 30, of Lompoc, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter.
Jacob pleaded guilty on June 30 to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation.
According to the Department of Justice, Jacob is an experienced pilot, skydiver and former Olympic athlete who had secured a sponsorship from a company that sold various products, including a wallet. Pursuant to the sponsorship deal, Jacob agreed to promote the company’s wallet in a YouTube video that he would post.
On November 24, 2021, Jacob took off in his airplane from Lompoc City Airport on a solo flight purportedly destined for Mammoth Lakes. Jacob did not intend to reach his destination, but instead planned to eject from his aircraft during the flight and video himself parachuting to the ground and his airplane as it descended and crashed.
Using the video camera mounted on the selfie stick and the video cameras he mounted on the airplane, Jacob was able to record the airplane as it descended and crashed into a dry brush area in Los Padres National Forest. After parachuting to the ground, Jacob hiked to the location of the wreck and recovered the data containing the video recording of his flight and the crash of the airplane.
On November 26, 2021, Jacob informed the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about the plane crash. The NTSB, which launched an investigation into the crash on or about that same day, told Jacob that he was responsible for preserving the wreckage so the agency could examine it.
Jacob agreed to determine the crash location and provide both the coordinates of the downed plane and videos of the crash to NTSB investigators. Three days later, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched its own investigation into the plane crash.
In the weeks following the plane crash, Jacob reportedly lied to investigators that he did not know the wreckage’s location. In fact, on December 10, 2021, Jacob and a friend flew by helicopter to the wreckage site. There, Jacob used straps to secure the wreckage, which the helicopter lifted and carried to Rancho Sisquoc in Santa Barbara County, where it was loaded onto a trailer attached to Jacob’s pickup truck.
On December 23, 2021, Jacob uploaded a YouTube video titled, “I Crashed My Airplane,” that contained a promotion of the wallet and depicted him parachuting from the plane and the aircraft’s subsequent crash. Jacob intended to make money through the video.
The Department of Justice states that Jacob lied to federal investigators when he submitted an aircraft accident incident report that falsely indicated that the aircraft experienced a full loss of power approximately 35 minutes after takeoff. Jacob also lied to an FAA aviation safety inspector when he said the airplane’s engine had quit and, because he could not identify any safe landing options, he had parachuted out of the plane.
“It appears that [Jacob] exercised exceptionally poor judgment in committing this offense,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[Jacob] most likely committed this offense to generate social media and news coverage for himself and to obtain financial gain. Nevertheless, this type of ‘daredevil’ conduct cannot be tolerated.”
The United States Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General investigated this matter. The NTSB and FAA provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Dominique Caamano and Dennis Mitchell of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section prosecuted this case.
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May 11, 2023: YouTuber Pilot Pleads Guilty to Intentionally Crashing Airplane into Los Padres Forest
This Clown should, at the least to serious time AND lose his Pilot’s License FOREVER.
Ridiculously light sentencing for what is basically a terrorist act.
If shooting down a drone can come with a 10 year sentence this should be life imprisonment.
While this was a stupid, selfish and dangerous stunt, it was no where near a “terrorist act.” What religious or political motivation did he have here?
SACJON – Crashing a plane, for views, likes, and engagement most certainly is causing mayhem, and is the unlawful use of violence, for a political goal.
Things don’t have to follow religion, political party or ideology to be political in nature. This clowns religion is “thumbs up culture.”
Is there a valid reason you found to reply to me? Some personal vendetta against anything I say on here?
SBTONER – get over yourself, you’re not exempt from replies. I’m simply pointing out that this isn’t terrorism. It’s a publicity stunt.
Here, read for yourself if you want:
“For the purpose of the Order, “terrorism” is defined to be an activity that (1) involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure; and (2) appears to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, kidnapping, or hostage-taking.” – https://www.state.gov/executive-order-13224/#:~:text=For%20the%20purpose%20of%20the,intimidation%20or%20coercion%3B%20or%20to
Depends on which definition you recognize.
Frankly I’m surprised to see you quote an executive order from the Bush administration.
The UN definition is a lot less specific and most certainly encompasses this type of behavior.
Just because he wasn’t fighting for the Jihad doesn’t make what he did any less terroristic.
No, it actually depends on which definition the law recognizes. Hey, go for it though. Best of luck pushing for terrorist charges on a dumb and dangerous publicity stunt.
“If shooting down a drone can come with a 10 year sentence” The person you are referring to from Florida faces a sentence of ten years, because he was a felon in possession of a firearm, who used that firearm.
Awesome – that guy is a clown, and will need to think about consequences for a while. Doubt he’ll do that kind of stupid stuff again after his well earned prison time. He might just get stabbed in there. How’s that for some upvotes??
What a total jerk. Been following this since it hit the news.
I wanted to ask him if it was worth his license.
I am shocked at the FAA!
“The FAA said if Jacob does not surrender his pilot’s license, he will be subject to a fine of $1,644 per day until it is surrendered. The FAA also will not accept any future license application from Jacob for one year.”
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/youtuber-trevor-jacobs-pilots-license-revoked-faa-filmed/story?id=84214546
“After his sentencing, Jacob released another video on Monday evening titled “I Got My Pilots License Back! But I’m Going To Prison.”
https://www.businessinsider.com/youtuber-pilot-trevor-jacob-sentenced-6-months-crashing-plane-views-2023-12?op=1
Too bad if this is true.
How odd he reported the crash then wouldn’t say where the plane was then moved/hid the plane