Register

YouTube Pilot Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge After Crashing Airplane

Trevor Jacob admitted to intentionally crashing his Taylorcraft BL-65 and destroying evidence, according to investigators.

Trevor Jacob jumps out of his Taylorcraft BL-65. [YouTube Screengrab]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilot and former U.S. Olympic snowboarder Trevor Jacob pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing a federal investigation.
  • Jacob admitted he intentionally crashed his airplane for a YouTube video promoting a wallet, faking an engine failure.
  • He subsequently lied to federal investigators about the crash and deliberately destroyed the wreckage to prevent its examination.
  • The crime carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and his pilot's certificate was previously revoked.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Pilot and former U.S. Olympic snowboarder Trevor Jacob has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing a federal investigation into the deliberate destruction of the wreckage of an airplane he intentionally crashed for a YouTube video.

According to information supplied by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a plea agreement and a one-count information charging Jacob, 29, of Lompoc, California, was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Jacob agreed to plead guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation. The crime carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Jacob is expected to make his initial court appearance in a few weeks.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE