YouTuber Trevor Jacob Speaks Out Before Serving 6-Month Sentence After Intentionally Crashing Plane

The 30-year-old pilot and snowboarder deliberately downed his plane in Los Padres National Forest while filming a stunt in November 2021, per the U.S. Attorney's Office

Trevor Jacob, a YouTuber and former Olympian who was recently sentenced to six months in prison after crashing his plane as part of a stunt, is speaking out ahead of serving his term.

On November 24, 2021, the 30-year-old pilot and snowboarder deliberately downed his plane in California's Los Padres National Forest while filming the stunt and later hid the evidence, according to the United States Attorney's Office. He pleaded guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation in June 2023.

In an interview with Good Morning America that aired Friday, Jacob said he “had no idea” that he was breaking the law when he jumped out of the plane. But he later learned that he committed five felonies by doing so.

“When I jumped out of the plane, I jumped and I’m like, ‘You just made the biggest mistake of your life,’” recalled Jacob, whose sentence begins later this month.

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The U.S. Attorney's Office said several cameras were set up inside the plane before it took off and ultimately crashed in Santa Barbara County. Jacob took off for what he said was a trip to Mammoth Lakes, but later completed the intentional crash.

“I made sure that there was no fuel in the plane, made absolutely sure that there was nobody in that vicinity,” Jacob told GMA.

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On Dec. 23, 2021, Jacob posted a video named “I Crashed My Airplane” — which has since been removed from YouTube — that showcased footage from the event, including images of Jacob parachuting to the ground.

"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,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a Dec. 4, 2023, statement. “Pursuant to the sponsorship deal, Jacob agreed to promote the company’s wallet in a YouTube video that he would post."

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Despite knowing he made a mistake, Jacob told GMA he posted the video because he “was just grateful to be alive” and thought he “may as well put this online.”

Jacob told investigators for weeks that he did not know the location of the wreckage. But on Dec. 10, 2021, per the U.S. Attorney's Office, he and a friend flew a helicopter to the wreckage site, picked up what remained of the plane, and transported the debris to Rancho Sisquoc.

The debris was later unloaded inside a hangar at Lompoc City Airport. Pieces of the wreckage were “deposited” into trash bins, both at the airport and elsewhere, said authorities.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revoked Jacob’s pilot license in April 2022. But according to GMA, he has since gotten it back.

Jacob said he takes “full responsibility” for his action, which he is “not condoning,” per his GMA interview. “I don’t think that this type of behavior is okay,” he added.

He also had a message for the public, especially kids, based on what happened with the plane crash. “Let’s learn from this mistake,” Jacob said. “Let’s not get in this disgusting feedback loop of dopamine and adrenaline and views and likes, and I’m happy to be looked at as the idiot to show kids, 'Hey, don’t do this type of stuff.'”

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