The crash happened on November 24, although Jacob didn’t post the video to his channel until December 23. and jump with a parachute conveniently strapped to his back. But a large number of people who have viewed and analyzed the video (as well as Jacob’s prior behavior) believe that is not what actually happened.
In the mind of any average internet user who thinks of himself as a career investigator when a new scandal breaks, let’s look at the facts.
It is said that Jacob headed to Mammoth for snowboarding and paragliding. Near the start of his video (which I’m hesitant to link here because it would only rack up more views), Jacob indicates that he also plans to scatter his late friend’s ashes during the flight. For those who believe Jacob’s plane crash was a real accident, that seems like enough reason for the trip.
But as Jacob glides over the hills of the Los Padres National Forest, the propeller at the front of the plane stops and the craft itself takes a few dips. After a few minutes of opening and closing the door (without making any attempt to make an emergency radio call or restart the engine, as some pilots have underline) Jacob decides to abandon ship. Jacob is sure to include multiple angles of his jump in his YouTube video.
How were these angles captured, you ask? Jacob had cameras attached to various parts of the plane’s exterior – a seemingly premeditated “hint” that isn’t as suspicious as it sounds. Many pilots attach cameras to the outside of their small plane in pursuit of awesome footage, much like flying a drone. But impressive images are Jacob’s forte; his entire YouTube channel revolves around mind-blowing videos of him skateboarding across the United States or going to jail for jumping on a train, which he has also captured and shared online.
Jacob accompanied his YouTube upload with an Instagram post encouraging his followers to view the crash on his channel.
Once on the ground, Jacob immediately heads for his plane, perhaps to collect the cameras containing his next YouTube hit. By now, Jacob has already shown that he is bleeding in several places and lacks both cell service and drinking water. nevertheless he persists towards his plane. Jacob remains determined to film his journey through dry dirt and bushes until he reaches a stream, shortly after which he sees a pair of headlights. At the end of the video, Jacob credits the farmers driving the car for saving his life.
Of course, none of this could have happened without the Taylorcraft BL64 itself, which Jacob purchased only a month before the crash. Sources say Jacob told seller he intended to do ‘something special’ with plane; whether Jacob was referring to spreading his friend’s ashes or conceiving an accident, no one knows.
Luckily, it’s not the internet’s job to find out either. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the crash. Regardless of whether Jacob’s viewers think his video was “cranky” or otherwise in bad taste, the FAA and NTSB are responsible for determining whether Jacob violated any flight rules or regulations. The agencies’ verdict, however, could take more than a year to develop; meanwhile, this is another great debate on the web.
Now read:
