Transportation safety and aircraft officials are currently investigating a California plane accident after many people raised doubts about the brave story of the pilot who captured the event and shared it via social media.
Trevor Jacob, a former team USA Olympic snowboarder, says he was on a mission to spread his friend’s ashes when he took to the skies in his single-engine plane over Los Padres National Forest.
He had cameras rolling at every angle. Jacob claims that about 20 minutes in, he experienced engine trouble.
“Holy s***! I’m over the mountains and I f****** have an engine out,”Jacob said.
Jacob ran out to save his life, a parachute in hand, just minutes later. Jacob watched the plane descend, his camera still rolling on board, and saw the aircraft crash into the side of the mountain.
Jacob was able to survive a hard landing in the brush and suffered only minor scrapes.
“I’m just so happy to be alive. That’s why I always freaking fly with a parachute,”He said.
The 28-year old found his downed plane later.
“There’s literally nothing. No anything. No water. I had a water jug in the back,”Jacob said.
Jacob set off on the treacherous and long hike down the mountain. Finally, as the sun was setting, Jacob found some water.
Some people believe the whole incident was staged, after they saw the incredible video. There were cameras from every angle that captured everything.
“Because the first item on any engine failure checklist is: open cockpit door immediately and prepare to jump out,”One comment.
“This was an intentional crash likely for the sole purpose of likes and views,”One thing led to another.
Steve Cowell, an aviation safety expert, also expressed concern about the crash.
“This aircraft from that altitude could have gone approximately 30 miles in either direction. You’re not taught to bail out of an aircraft if something goes wrong. So that’s the first problem I had with it. The second problem is the lack of communications. Why was this pilot not communicating with air traffic control?”Cowell spoke.
Jacob stated that he declined to comment.
The crash is being investigated by both the FAA as well as the NTSB.