LOS ANGELES - Trevor Daniel Jacob, a YouTuber pilot, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for intentionally obstructing a federal investigation by destroying the wreckage of an airplane that he deliberately crashed in Santa Barbara County. The motive behind the crash was to gain online views and financial gain.

United States District Judge John F. Walter handed down the sentence to Jacob, a 30-year-old resident of Lompoc. Jacob had pleaded guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation on June 30.

Jacob, an experienced pilot, skydiver, and former Olympic athlete, had secured a sponsorship deal with a company selling various products, including a wallet. As part of the sponsorship agreement, Jacob agreed to promote the company's wallet in a YouTube video.

On November 24, 2021, Jacob took off from Lompoc City Airport on a solo flight supposedly headed for Mammoth Lakes. However, his real plan was to eject from the aircraft mid-flight and document himself parachuting to the ground as the plane descended and crashed.

Before takeoff, Jacob installed several video cameras on different parts of the airplane and equipped himself with a parachute, video camera, and selfie stick. Approximately 35 minutes after takeoff, while flying over the Los Padres National Forest near Santa Maria, Jacob ejected from the aircraft and captured his descent via video.

Using the cameras mounted on both the selfie stick and the airplane, Jacob recorded the plane's descent and crash into a dry brush area in the Los Padres National Forest. Following the parachute landing, Jacob hiked to the crash site and retrieved the video recording of the flight and the subsequent crash.

Two days after the crash, Jacob notified the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about the incident. The NTSB initiated an investigation and requested Jacob's cooperation in preserving the wreckage. However, in the weeks that followed, Jacob deceived investigators by claiming ignorance about the wreckage's location.

On December 10, 2021, Jacob and a friend flew by helicopter to the crash site. They secured the wreckage using straps and transported it to Rancho Sisquoc in Santa Barbara County. Eventually, Jacob cut up and destroyed the airplane's wreckage, disposing of the detached parts in trash bins at Lompoc City Airport and other locations. These actions were done with the intention of obstructing the federal authorities from investigating the crash.

Jacob further misled investigators by submitting a false aircraft accident incident report, claiming that the plane experienced a complete loss of power shortly after takeoff. He also falsely told an FAA aviation safety inspector that the engine had failed, leading him to parachute out of the plane due to the lack of safe landing options.

Prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum that Jacob displayed exceptionally poor judgment by committing this offense. They highlighted that his primary motive appeared to be generating social media and news coverage for himself, as well as achieving financial gain. Nonetheless, the prosecutors emphasized that such 'daredevil' conduct cannot be tolerated.

The investigation into Jacob's actions was conducted by the United States Department of Transportation - Office of Inspector General, with significant assistance from the NTSB and the FAA.

This case serves as a reminder of the potential consequences individuals may face when exploiting dangerous situations for personal gain and obstructing federal investigations, ultimately jeopardizing public safety.