Trevor Jacob has been the subject of online criticism after posting a YouTube video where he parachuted from a Taylorcraft BL64 plane and filmed it crashing into the hills of the Los Padres National Forest near Cuyama, California.

During the flight the Taylorcraft's engine supposedly lost power, stalled, and could not be restarted. Jacob then points the plane nose-down and exits, sending the unoccupied aircraft into the ground.

Jacob continued to film himself as he descended and proclaimed, "This is why I always fly with a parachute." He then trekked back to the wreckage and hiked until a farmer, who he credits with saving his life, found him in the darkness.

The video of the incident was posted to YouTube where it immediately began racking up views. The aviation sector of YouTube wasted no time picking apart Jacob's claims. At the time of writing, the video has reached over one million views. It also amassed more than 5,000 comments, many of which called out the crash as being staged. Comments on the video have since been turned off, but that hasn't stopped people from making reaction and explainer videos that point out abnormalities in the pilot's videos.

  • StellarTabi [none/use name]
    ·
    3 years ago

    The aviation sector of YouTube wasted no time picking apart Jacob’s claims.

    I've read enough r/NothingEverHappens to know people really just like calling everything fake. The video didn't have anything laywoman could spot, is it really that unbelievable?

    • Lydia [she/her]
      ·
      3 years ago

      I thought laymen was a gender neutral term

      • sappho [she/her]
        ·
        edit-2
        3 years ago

        I just say layperson for gender neutral

    • BynarsAreOk [none/use name]
      ·
      3 years ago

      1)People don't usually pilot planes with a parachute, at most they wouldn't be wearing it all the time lol.

      2)Even if somehow you decided to have a parachute pilots usualy try to land the plane safely.

      3)Even if somehow you determined you couldn't land you would've tried to glide so that you can crash safely.

      • Duckduck [none/use name]
        ·
        3 years ago

        He wasn't "wearing a parachute". He was wearing full skydiving gear. Nobody does that. Even those weirdos who pack a parachute pack a very basic one that's designed to get you on the ground, no frills. Sucker had a selfie stick ready to go and everything. The FAA is going to ream him a new asshole.