Father's "Pilot Record" Dream for 7-Year-Old Daughter Leads to Death | Jessica Dubroff Case Analysis

This video answers the question: Can I analyze case of Jessica Dubroff?
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[@OlJarhead]

“I would want all my children to die in a state of joy” What a ridiculous statement. I’m sure Jessica died in a state of terror.

[@richardshirley2786]

This statement ranks with the world’s dumbest assembly of words.

[@hodgeelmwood8677]

Yeah, it's like when people say, "They died doing what they loved." Maybe, but they're still dead!

[@Ebani]

@@hodgeelmwood8677 Completely different situations though and while dead it would've happen eventually bc guess what, those ppl do what they love, main difference being they chose to do it themselves.

[@alwa6954]

@@Ebani Jessica chose this and she loved it. Yes she's a child but she can still choose and love like any human. But the thing about "dying doing what you love," as people like to say to feel better about a tragic accident, is that they may love the activity, but when something goes catastrophically wrong and they are heading towards death, it's no longer something you love. They died in abject terror and fear. And I'm sure that plane was filled with little Jessica's screams of terror right up until they smashed into the ground. RIP little girl.

[@sendmorerum8241]

@@alwa6954 Why do you think she chose this? She looked so tired and confused in that last interview. It wasn't her idea and I'm sure her father didn't explain her that flying sometimes kill people. She only did this to meet his expectations.

[@coldisle]

A completely innocent, adorable child with two self absorbed lunatics as parents. And definitely…the pilot in command made the ultimate decision that killed them all.

[@NoIdea68]

Exactly!

[@scratchy1704]

Yes,I 100% agree with you.Very selfish.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

Sounds like a certain political cult

[@LifesPeachy321]

What boggles my mind is you have to be 16 to obtain your drivers license...but flying a plane...ah any age is sufficient! Seriously! Why is no one talking about that?

[@trishoconnor2169]

But the crazy mom survived, to make money off a book about her daughter.

[@jenna2431]

Did she even have her training wheels off her bike yet???

[@geraldfriend256]

What ,his new wife?

[@JustMe-fo4ev]

@@geraldfriend256 lmao

[@scratchy1704]

​@@geraldfriend256Good 1 😂

[@ledzep3692]

Funny you mentioned that because my daughter was the same age at the time and I can remember her learning to ride her bicycle when this happened and she did have training wheels on then.

[@dudeonbike800]

@@geraldfriend256 BRUTAL!!!!

[@chastinreppert7685]

Poor girl had a narcissistic, immature, and fame seeking pathetic “father,” and what sounds like a delusional, disengaged, and uninvolved mother. RIP little girl.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

Just another day in maga-ritaville

[@mariatorres9789]

​@ThatOpalGuy You must not be from California. 😅 Most the rich there, voted for Biden.

[@tuxitalk1World]

​@@ThatOpalGuyYou want to be remembered for dying at a young age? Biden can't even remember when his own son died of cancer, but he has to put his name in every memory he rewrites of Beau's life. A disillusioned old man who has no functional memory of his own dead son. Had Jessica's father lived, he'd be the same disillusioned man with his own version of his daughter's death to talk about, but nobody believes.

[@creativemadness6758]

This reminds me of the “balloon boy” story where the dad faked that his kid was in basically a mylar balloon flying over the country. Countless rescue efforts where deployed only to find out in the end that the parents faked the whole thing as a way of getting reality tv show.

[@meesalikeu]

just like ivanka

[@Johnalucard-jo3yi]

Never push you're dreams on your children. Let them do and be who they are.

[@rosestorms5396]

@allenbanks9034you would be surprised of what people are capable of nowadays

[@CraftAero]

Worked for Ivanka, but she knew when to bail.

[@SpookMeows13]

EXACTLY!!!!!

[@statementleaver8095]

Experience the Nightmare of PRIDE instead 😂😂

[@bru9]

​@spinetingler-op6sta 7yr old is a 7yr old, not that difficult. Let them be kids

[@fixfalcon2628]

This is so heart-breaking. A young girl's life cut short by a greedy, sensation-seeking narcissist who was supposed to PROTECT her.

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

I wouldn't try and diagnose anyone in the comments. You are quite possibly right, but we don't know for sure if he was a narcissist.

[@fixfalcon2628]

Well, this is just a theory, my opinion...@@jusztinnemeti6380

[@fixfalcon2628]

Correct@spinetingler-op6st

[@frankpaya690]

​@@jusztinnemeti6380reality check : If it quacks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and looks like a duck - It's probably - A DUCK!

[@kellykane7586]

​@@jusztinnemeti6380In my opinion the term narcissist,bi-polar , OCD and others are thrown around way too much. It actually takes away from the legitimate cases w/these disorders. I do however believe that this guy had narcissistic traits, most definitely

[@aes0p895]

At 7 years old, she wasn't even really able to make an informed decision. Tragic and shameful.

[@Milania717]

Best comment!!! And this folks is WHY kids should not be making decisions on their gender!!!

[@janusn9]

​@@Milania717 For real.

[@aes0p895]

@@Milania717 That doesn't make any sense. If we're using this as a lesson, then it's the parents who shouldn't be able to decide gender until the kid can make an informed decision.

[@batkat0]

​@@Milania717 Another Fox news zombie. Culture wars and fear mongering over trans people so you're too distracted to demand real change and ethical behavior from your leaders.

[@Ebani]

@@aes0p895 You obviously have learning dishabilities, hope life works for you bc it will be hard just to go through it when you have such problems.

[@Leavingthischannel000]

He sacrificed his child to feed his ego. So incredibly sad.

[@ilovemycat___]

“He was about 52 and the new wife was 19, the age difference was pronounced but based on how the story turns out the maturity level was probably close to equal” Dr G’s a savage 😂😂😂

[@bobsmith1101]

What, not true?

[@Aaron-kj8dv]

I think the argument "what do they even talk about?" is overused and used to justify someone's personal dislike for age gap relationships as if we don't have great interpersonal relationships at work with people decades older and younger than us. Now that I said that. What the fuck do they even talk about? lol

[@amandamills6181]

& accurate

[@TryNSave]

Still referred to Biden as “relatively honest”- savage, but not always accurate in his assessments.

[@benwright6330]

​​@@bstny98Cool. You strung 3 sentences together that have nothing to do with each other, to make no sense. "The Sky is Blue. There's a fly my milk. I think I sh!t my pants and it's running down my leg, ..into my cowboy boot, ..again, .." ..🥺

[@rattyfinklestein4764]

I remember the outrage when this happened and her mother being interviewed by the press. She was smiling the whole time, "She was an old soul and died doing what she loved". Made me sick.

[@esteemedmortal5917]

Yeah, pretty sure nosediving into the ground isn’t anyone’s idea of dying doing what you love. Disgusting indeed.

[@jrzygurl]

Yeah I remember when this happened.. that idiot father and the mother didn't seem to upset either....sickening

[@vladimirpoutine7522]

The Jennings family is a living example of this narcissism.

[@icin4d]

I commented almost the same thing. You're right. She seemed calmly at ease with what happened. At that time my youngest was 6 years old, and their birthdays were just days apart, and I just remember feeling anger when I heard that absurd comment.

[@jameshatton4211]

So they were both Narcissists then! Both her parents being Narcissistic meant that this poor girl didn't stand a chance? If it wasn't the plane crash, then she would have died by some other thing that endangered her life at the hands of either parent?

[@carolynnilsen9270]

Poor poor little girl - denied a childhood and killed by reckless adults. RIP I hope you are playing in heaven 🕊

[@peteredwards7760]

Dreadful parents, poor girl.

[@BlackWolf18C]

On average, three children are killed in auto accidents every day.

[@leslijones4443]

@@BlackWolf18Cwell they are not at the wheel. This was criminal.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

​@@leslijones4443that you know of

[@copperspartan1643]

@@BlackWolf18CStatistically driving is much more dangerous, but there is something uniquely terrifying about heading towards the ground at high speed yet having enough time to process what is happening, knowing that you’re about to die.

[@anneflynn9614]

Poor little girl had the misfortune of being born to two poor parents.

[@drivethruabortion280]

Many are.

[@Snakesnarl]

Some people shouldn’t have kids

[@Susan-lf2hl]

Especially narcissists

[@drivethruabortion280]

Most.

[@pavlovsdogman]

Facts

[@isabellind1292]

What I find disturbing is this stunt culture whenever some adult performs yet another a high risk activity that wants to kill them so they can be applauded and celebrated and patted on the back for their efforts when they wind up dead so when (more often than not) any surviving children they left behind are glaringly omitted from the narrative so that no one knows how self-centered and irresponsible these parents really were.

[@H_H_____]

​@@isabellind1292 Like the TV series Jacka$$es.

[@andrewpowell1734]

“The age difference was pronounced, but, based on how the story turns out, the maturity level was about equal.” 😅

[@ashlipope5079]

Oh ya soooo funny psycho

[@violetbowie7857]

Very insensitive.

[@GenXfrom75]

He never cared about Jessica’s dreams… this was all about HIM 🤬🤬🤬

[@deboracopeland4795]

If he cared for his family he never would have cheated, left his family, and married another child.

[@GenXfrom75]

@@deboracopeland4795 I’m not disagreeing

[@pwallace5359]

I don’t think it was her dream at all.

[@georgegarvey7338]

Yes, he did care about his daughter. Someone like you wouldn't understand that. She was an over achiever.

[@GenXfrom75]

@@georgegarvey7338 that’s pathetic… she was terrified and he still made her do it. He killed her. No he didn’t give a care about his daughter.

[@cardinalRG]

I was a working general-aviation pilot and instructor, when this tragic event made the news. It surprised neither me nor my peers, because we’d been tracking the whole publicity stunt by then, and saw no good in promoting the myth of a child “pilot.” The media were lazy on the story, and if they’d bothered to feel the pulse of the aviation community at large, they’d have sensed great criticism. RIP, Jessica, the adults did you wrong.

[@Studio23Media]

Unfortunately, the media still does not seem to understand anything about aviation and largely ignores the aviation community.

[@mizzmolly7649]

I totally agree with you. I'm a broadcast journalist, and we were extremely lazy on the story. Very lazy.

[@cardinalRG]

@@mizzmolly7649 --Thanks for the thoughtful response, and don’t beat yourself up about it. Very clearly, yours is a responsible mindset. Unfortunately, in the face of positive lessons learned by the mainstream media, social media have emerged as an often, poor and misleading source of information. In 2021, a KZbinr faked an airborne emergency, and crashed his aircraft on camera, just to gain clicks. The mainstream media sniffed out the hoax pretty quickly, but it took the social-media world much longer to come to a correct reckoning, during which time many in the blogosphere defended and even praised the idiot. Last December, another KZbinr, Jenny Blalock, lost her life in an aircraft crash. But this only followed months’ worth of posted videos that displayed her woeful piloting skills, and that worried many of us for literal safety. Critics in comments sections and elsewhere were immediately and frequently shouted down by subscribers and other supporters whose rationale, oddly, seemed to center on her popularity and the entertainment value of her videos, as if that equated to actual piloting skill.

[@Nocturnalux]

The media could not care less for the aviation community.

[@StarkeyatRingo]

@@Nocturnalux or anything real that matters. we can see who puts money in their accounts

[@TheMattTrakker]

She wasn't even flying the plane, so even if there was a record, she wouldn't have actually set a record...but they kept going?

[@angelavolkov1126]

She was meant to be, excepting an emergency

[@BODYBUILDERS_AGAINST_FEMINISM]

Yes that is what the video said

[@madeleineprice3556]

are you guys dull? she is flying the plane, the adult copilot is assistance in the event of an emergency. To make such a record they were likely recording her flight the whole time to confirm it was her flying solely

[@BODYBUILDERS_AGAINST_FEMINISM]

@@madeleineprice3556 okay thank you for your wildly speculative comment that contributed nothing to the conversation while insulting us at the same time thank you

[@mindyschocolate]

@@madeleineprice3556she couldn’t take off or land the plane though. The adults did that. Definitely not flying the plane the whole time.

[@BouncyBrown]

Tragic. Reminds me of the quote: "Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself." William Martin

[@skreekarose3610]

Wow, such a beautiful quote!

[@thegreencat9947]

The wonder and marvel of an ordinary life. I like that alot.💜😀

[@batkat0]

Exactly, if you're only happy and fulfilled when the extraordinary stuff happens then you're probably going to be bored a lot. And you'll be chasing the feeling constantly and likely not in a good way. Finding joy in the little things is important.

[@thegreencat9947]

@@batkat0 Be here now.🙏

[@MaternalUnit]

I love this! Will share with my daughters. Thank you.

[@Traderjoe]

It aggravates me that a vicarious parent can hijack and ruin their child’s childhood. I don’t like seeing kids pushed into adult behavior and think that it ruins the years of innocence that children deserve.

[@angelavolkov1126]

So basically, one vainglorious old fool got his daughter killed by handing her off to another even more vainglorious old fool with even less concerns for an unrelated child's welfare.

[@feanorian21maglor38]

Yes, exactly right.

[@taliabraver]

This man killed his daughter.

[@v-town1980]

He wasn't old. Grow up.

[@lobstermash]

How on earth was this legal? A seven-year-old child with access to the controls of an aeroplane, and people are treating it as a festive occasion? If a seven-year-old was set to drive a car the adult responsible would be arrested, surely? What the hell?

[@kayzbluegenes]

How horribly tragic! 😢 That sweet innocent angel had no one to advocate (or even care) for her; neither of her biological contributors deserve to be called 'parent'. 😡

[@catserver8577]

These parents get filed in my "worst parents ever" cabinet.

[@Hatbox948]

I wonder what happened to the father's 19 year old wife?

[@SpookMeows13]

And rightly so. So terrible...

[@murphychurch8251]

This child would have been better off as an orphan. Surrounded by irresponsible, selfish fools at an age where she had no chance to stand up for herself against these idiots.

[@JeaneGenie]

​@@Hatbox948 Ran off with her 23yo boyfriend and his life insurance money.

[@Hatbox948]

@@JeaneGenie I figured it would be something like that.

[@slantos2668]

I kept thinking, her poor mother... and then got to about 11mins and went omg never mind. That poor kid never stood a chance.

[@Fadingroses19]

I said the same thing !

[@novaguy509]

I remember this situation. I remember a reporter asking Jessica if she was scared. She did comment that the weather concerned her. All these years later and this story is still heartbreaking to me. The adults let her down and it cost her life.

[@Inkling777]

Sounds like this unfortunate child drew two grossly inadequate parents.

[@aquarius5461]

What a crazy mother If your child wanted to fly like “Peter Pan” you wouldn’t let him jump out of the bloody window. Thank you Dr Grande much appreciated x

[@carlholland3819]

i believe the pavement would be bloody, not the window

[@maxalberts2003]

Diane Linkletter. See "The Diane Linkletter Story" starring Divine and directed by John Waters. "Jiiiiiimmmmm!"

[@frankpaya690]

Certainly not without a parachute

[@GAshoneybear]

Somehow I think this mom wouldn't have minded.

[@TheMotz55]

I remember a kid in our neighborhood had a superman costume and thought he could fly. Fortunately, he did not jump out of window but he did jump from a tree. He had the wind knocked out of him. After that, he never wore his superman costume...not even for Halloween.

[@piyoweb]

Father "contacted the media". Enough said. So dumb, so sad.

[@RullXov]

He reminds me of one of those horrible parents that pushed their child into Hollywood acting back in the 1940s - 60s, not caring how their child felt about it.

[@Mitch_Ryder]

Very true….but that definitely didn’t stop in the 60’s.

[@Sea.and.sky.]

@@Mitch_Rydernor did this only start in the 40’s.

[@andyny29]

Unfortunately, parents are still pushing their children into auditions in Hollywood and elsewhere today.😡

[@RightsForZombies]

Hate to say it but stage parents are alive and kicking and no laws governing child actors’ wellbeing can substitute for good parents. I used to be a child actor and I knew a few insane stage mothers. Thankfully mine wasn’t, and I had an agent actually looking out for my best interests as well.

[@icin4d]

I remember this happening. And if I remember correctly, her mother said something along the lines of, 'she died doing something she loved.' This made me feel physically ill.

[@Arcturus549]

Someone posted almost this exact comment before you. Seems likee you read it, changed a few words and posted. 😂

[@icin4d]

@@Arcturus549 It's been a while. I couldn't remember if her mother said this or a relative. I do remember being angry at that sentiment thinking the last moments of the 7 year old's life was filled with terror.

[@garysmith3173]

The poor child didn’t die doing something she loved. She died in absolute screaming terror. That’s the reality I’m afraid.

[@inquisitivenessandcontempl9918]

What would you expect to hear from a mother who just lost her child and who is pushed by the journalists for a comment? She was obviously shocked. She didn't go out and made a statement. She was approached by an aggressive reporter who pushed her for reaction when the most ethical and natural thing would have been to leave her alone and let her mourn.

[@JustMe-fo4ev]

@@Arcturus549 Yes because it's impossible for two people to have what'a a pretty common sentiment here. Great work, detective!

[@shawnnewell4541]

Some people should never have kids.

[@jakahl1470]

Seems like MOST people who have kids probably shouldn't have. Sad for this little girl.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

@@jakahl1470 Having kids is like having a position of authority. The kinds of people that want it the most probably shouldn't have it!

[@TheCatBilbo]

It's a classic situation: a parent trying to live vicariously through their child.

[@lbonn2282]

the only saving grace of this story is that this poor girl is in a place where her parents can't hurt her anymore

[@cryogeneric]

The post crash interviews with the mom were weird. She seemed so unemotional and even criticized people for putting teddy bears in the makeshift memorial near the crash site. :\

[@N8076U]

This hits very close to home for me. When this happened, I was working ramp service for United Airlines. When the bodies were shipped back home, they arrived in SFO and I was the one that removed the boxes containing their bodies from the aircraft.

[@kisaragistation5220]

Yours is a normal reaction. I remember a video of the mother pointing to a spot on the ground and saying to her 3 year old that's where her sister died, right there. 🫤

[@deniseblackburn33]

Wow😢

[@EB-wl9st]

Her "mother" should have been investigated by CPS for the way she was "raising" the 3 year old.

[@drivethruabortion280]

Not poor enough.

[@Hatbox948]

If someone else (an adult pilot) was piloting the plane, how could the child get recognition for making a historic flight?

[@alisonwilson9749]

Basically even the 'record' was one big cheat.

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

Don't ask logical questions please

[@uruloki2758]

It was all about the media attention.

[@catherinehazur7336]

The highly experienced, so called CFI-PIC was likely actually piloting their light plane banking it into the strong winds of a Wyoming thunderstorm whilst the terrified child sat in the right hand seat, with the equally highly experienced dad of the year kibbitzing from behind, at least until the plane settled into a complete nosedive just before hitting ground zero. It was all an ill conceived, deceptive publicity stunt designed to dupe the gullible public, gone wrong right from the get go

[@captainamerica6525]

So absolutely avoidably tragic.

[@germb747]

This happened when I was a student pilot myself (age 16), so this case has always fascinated me. Poor risk management due to get-there-itis is a common problem in aviation. So tragic that it had to claim a 7-year-old in this accident.

[@davidgray1515]

The poor risk management is thinking you have to get to your destination so fast that you must take a flying machine. Way too many in the sky. Private flights should be severely restricted.

[@PCLHH]

@@davidgray1515 BS

[@germb747]

@@davidgray1515I disagree. General aviation is an important part of our national infrastructure, not to mention that we need legitimate training flights to take place so that we can develop the next generation of commercial pilots. Learning sound risk management is a part of that process, as is learning about when to commence a flight and when to cancel it.

[@JustMe-fo4ev]

@@germb747 I agree with you but I do think CFIs need to be better screened. We've seen GA incidents recently where root cause was basically traced to poor CFIs

[@Dyson_Cyberdynesystems]

@@davidgray1515 get back in your hole. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

[@jenanne31]

Oh, I was hoping you'd cover this case! It was such a sad story. Thank you so much, Dr. Grande.

[@christopherd6399]

I remember watching that interview with little Jessica. She was visibly concerned about the weather conditions, and appeared to have much more sense than the two adults. All she could do was follow who she thought were the ones who would protect her and have her best interests in mind. I was so incensed by the idiocy and selfishness of those morons.

[@Listrynne]

My daughter is 7. She's very smart and capable. She has her own adult tools and has used saws. She can also cook pasta and eggs with minimal supervision. I would NEVER allow her to fly a plane.

[@Shannonbarnesdr1]

thats awesome, she is learning a skill / trade with those tools, and independent skills with basic cooking, i was cooking the basics ( eggs, grill cheese, mac n cheese around 6 and 7 ) . - kids can and do fly safely, but with flight instructors, not with egotistical fathers, and while they can train when they are around 10, 11, 12 years old (individual maturity levels allowing of course) , but they cannot solo or be awarded a license until their 16th birthday.

[@Leavingthischannel000]

She shouldn't be handling saws. Sounds like you're just like the father in this story actually, just to a lesser degree.

[@statementleaver8095]

Evidently You want Your Child to experience being with the Sharpest tool in the Box. Shame the Mother is a Sandwich short of a Picnic 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@erenoz2910]

You let a 7 year old operate a saw? What the fuck man?

[@houseofsolomon2440]

Hand saw? Hack saw? Circular saw? Chop saw? Rip saw? Please be specific -

[@kendrapratt2098]

We were the same age. I’ve never forgotten this little girl 😕 I remember seeing her on everything and hearing about the crash. Ridiculous trying to be famous though your child

[@Bronislaavv]

"There are old pilots , and bold pilots ; but no old bold pilots".

[@gogreen7794]

My father was an ATC and a private pilot. He said that a lot!

[@jimarcher5255]

Everybody says it a lot

[@PCLHH]

In the motorcycle circles they say: Those who show off, fall off.

[@lindickison3055]

Long history of dance moms, soccer dads, Hollywood moms, etc....seeking their fame and glory thru children' s acheivements.

[@Bax60]

There were some old bold pilots. But most of them died of old age by now

[@kevinnobody3052]

The old saying "Just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean you should" comes to mind.

[@DigitalNeb]

A distracted and fatigued pilot, bad weather, and an overloaded aircraft. It's sad, but this accident was totally avoidable. Pilot Debrief would be shaking his head right now.

[@darthsmack7090]

Hopefully he gets the issues with his channel sorted out. I really like him.

[@houseofsolomon2440]

Mom was 100% loser. A squatter that doesn't permit any toys 🏆

[@elliebellie7816]

I think he has already covered this accident.

[@micheleeve6054]

@DigitalNeb` Just like JFK, JR. SORRY TO SAY. JFK was late to meet wife and sister in law, wh fractured Ankle in cast. ( flying unfamiliar aircraft) with precious cargo. I digress, He was a Beautiful young man, yet took many , necessayr while this risks. Very Tragic. he could have paid for an experienced pilot to fly to the dang Wedding.- Not a wise decision.( And not a choice for the little child could have formed). JFK JR, WAS THE ONLY HANDSOME CHILD OF THE ENTIRE KEMMEDY FAMILY, IMHO. JOHN -JOHN LOOKED LIKE HIS MOTHER. JACKIE. YOU can hate on me. Forgive my divergences, RIP INNOCENT LITTLE GIRL CHILD..

[@Hugh1966]

@@darthsmack7090me too

[@DragonWorksOfficial]

So sad for that girl, let down by both of her parents and never having had a chance to be a child and experience life fully. Anyone who's had any driving lessons in their late teens knows how overwhelming it could be at the beginning, I'd imagine learning to fly at 7 to be 100 times worse. Everyone around her, including the media, has betrayed that little girl by not calling authorities to put a stop to this madness.

[@cybermandan1960]

Imagine being too young to drink, but your father thinks you're old enough to fly an aircraft.

[@MakerInMotion]

Everyone drives a car when they're too young to drink.

[@chouseification]

@@MakerInMotion when driving a car, you are not expected to regularly change radio frequencies and keep in contact with the ground regularly... nor do you have the wide array of odd instruments to master in a car. IFR flight controls on an airplane do take a while to learn, even if you're well above average intelligence, soloing at that age is simply stupid.

[@Shannonbarnesdr1]

kids do fly, and can do it safely, but with a flight instructor, not a egotistical father.

[@alabamaman1372]

Imagine a kid deciding their gender.

[@mllee2008]

Imagine being too young to vote, drink, smoke, drive, get a tattoo, defend your country...but somehow old enough to decide to IRREVERSIBLY change/destroy your body by taking hormones then surgically mutilating healthy body parts!

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

She did not look like a happy little girl. 😢

[@thegreencat9947]

My observation as well.

[@bigdopamine9343]

I did dozens of trans continental flights before I was seven. Mostly on American Airlines.

[@momof1576]

Right?!

[@thomaslance5428]

Lmao

[@ratoim]

NGL, you had me in the first half.😮😂

[@loribethkerns5785]

I'll take never happen for $800 Alex😂

[@Zippythewondersquirrel]

@@loribethkerns5785children CAN be passengers.

[@stephenbiggins9114]

I remember this. The parents reportedly did not let Jessica play with toys. What a couple of @$$holes! Child abuse!

[@flowerchild89]

I haven't heard about this. This father is crazy for putting his daughter in this danger! I would never put my kids in a dangerous situation!!!

[@momof1576]

I remember this clearly. Her mother could only talk about how it brought her joy so it was fine.

[@rosemadder5547]

Airplanes aren't typically dangerous. Do you put your kid in a car every day? And back then there weren't even seatbelt laws. Cars are by far more dangerous than a plane. And yet it's so normal you didn't even catch it. It's easy to be quick to judge, but you need to run it through some logic before you speak.

[@johnw4659]

Your comparison is not a very valid one. This child was not simply being transported as a passenger from point A to point B. Nor was this a driving lesson in a wide-open vacant parking lot. This child was being pressed into a role that requires a level of maturity, skill, decision making and physical strength beyond the capabilities of many adults. The demands of basic cockpit management can be exhausting. The demands of passively sitting in a car seat on the way to the grocery store, while sleep inducing, are not necessarily tasking. @@rosemadder5547

[@Arcturus549]

​@@momof1576It could just be a coping strategy. On the inside she could feel very different.

[@andrewmoore2939]

yeah there is a difference though between having your 7yr old in the car or letting your 7yr old drive.@@rosemadder5547

[@mmalon2908]

This story is similar to the "Balloon Boy," boondoggle that occurred years ago; boys dad said boy was hoisted into the air by homemade balloon, but his son was actually sleeping in the garage attic after a large ground/air rescue attempt. Did you ever do a segment on the "Balloon Boy?"

[@DavianSinner]

Right, and I believe the dads ultimate goal was a reality TV show.

[@notmyname3883]

Not "sleeping," but HIDING. Dad planned it all.

[@isabellind1292]

Except that was no hoax. If you look at the documentaries that have been made since the media decided to run w/that narrative in order to exploit what happened, it's evident that nothing remotely spoke to it being a stunt gone wrong.

[@ep6287]

Similar narcissism but at least he did the bare minimum to keep his kid physically safe

[@barbaradoug5768]

He did indeed cover balloon boy kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJaammigl7-frZosi=3XHUzasJeNve9Ig0

[@dlmsarge8329]

One aspect of this story amazes me, partly because I suspect it's more common than I'd like to believe. People can grow into adulthood, become employed, own a house, be employed, have children and generally function in society while being completely delusional. They can have a completely bent view of reality but still get by. I suppose some die young by misadventure but it doesn't seem like a given.

[@linmorell1813]

Excellent analyse

[@usagiroxie]

If you meet one of them, all they do is create chaos. It's so weird to realise a lot of people don't have insight, maturity, and empathy. Even weirder is to realise they fake it.

[@firetruck988]

The issue isn't the age itself, the issue is the pressure on Jessica to perform a flight she was not ready for, and may not have even been interested in doing.

[@JustMe-fo4ev]

I still think it's far too young but agreed it was a number of variables all converging

[@Jessica.Rachel]

That footage of Jessica from her last interview is heartbreaking. I'm so sick of media and other institutions exploiting children in this way, in all ways of course, but she already needed intervention from narcissistic parents. Instead they enabled them.

[@NicholasWolfwood-md7vm]

*cough Autumn's Armory *cough.

[@areza15143]

Sorry, this was parent exploitation, not necessarily the media is responsibility.

[@maryd253]

Very sad. I’m glad laws have been passed to prevent this from happening again.

[@JulieCaptivatedinFl]

"Fame, Makes a man take things over....Fame, What you get is no tomorrow." Song by David Bowie, John Lennon background vocals. Mom was batshit crazy and dad was pimping her out for fame. Excellent analysis, Dr. Grande!

[@chudleyflusher7132]

“Is it any wonder…”

[@dickjohnson9582]

"Feeling so gay"

[@ronfowlermusic]

Crap fame

[@dougdoesit3013]

So glad you call out this behavior. This is just one manner of parental exploitation. There are so many other ways in which parents exploit their children for their pipe dreams. So sick.

[@FeelnLikeIDoEveryDay]

I am going to turn 40 this year. I have no kids. I think to myself, would it be fair to have a kid now and be like 50 when they are 10? This guy had a kid at 50, divorced at 51, remarried a girl closer to his newborns age and was in the grave by 57. Girl Dads Gone Wild lol rest in peace young one.

[@sylentknight]

you've matured and should be hitting your financial stride as a man around late 30's early 40's, you should have a vast amount of knowledge and wisdom to bestow upon your child if you wish to have one around this age.

[@jessepitt]

I’m 43, my son is 5 and my daughter is 2. We just wanted to have our shit together before we had kids and we are slow I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️. Although I am not as endlessly energetic as I was in my twenties, I am far more patient and sensitive too. I think that is more important than just not being an old fart when they graduate college.

[@janeen70]

Many have children when they are too young, irresponsible and selfish. Those kids often get raised by grandparents. What is unfair to children is bringing them into this world when you are not prepared to care for them and put their needs ahead of your own. The fact that you are concerned about how your age might impact a child, tells me that you would make an excellent father! Forty is not too old. Wisdom, patience and stability are far more important than youthful energy.

[@RepentImmediately]

​@@sylentknightmy father was 52 when I was born. He was incredibly successful at that point but lacked wisdom even up until the day he died at 93. Seven years after I was born he went through his third divorce. Believe it or not he was actually considering getting married a fourth time in his 80s.

[@hamsterama]

Hey there, I'm a lot like you! Just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I'm female, and the same age as you. I also have no kids, and no desire to have any. I would not have the energy to deal with babies or toddlers, all while having a full-time job. Babies will mess with your sleep, and I'm someone who has a hard time even dealing with daylight savings time. Toddlers need to be constantly supervised, and don't get me started on the terrible twos. However, my two sisters have kids, and I spoil my nieces and nephew with lots and lots of toys. :)

[@harpothehealer]

The kid is basically a dressed up doll and exploited. Using kids like this is perverse and sickening. The reporters are in lots of ways similar with the 1 to 1 interview with the kid after each flight on the tarmac. This kid has no idea of the manipulation or why , at 7 years old (attention; acceptance by their peers,) Basic psychology tells you the parents allowing this are disgusting .At 7 the thought processes and influences, the kid reacts off them 100 %.

[@GigiRulesTheRoost]

This is absolutely horrific and outrageous. That poor little girl. She didn't have a chance with those "parents" of hers. Why were they given that special clearance that day? my word. Beyond tragic

[@RealityIsStrangerThanFiction]

Fascinating story, I love the details you decide to include, the mayor sticks out, and the fact that Lloyd did not hold a pilot license, and TV interview notes. But the spiritual healer and squatter is quite the descriptor, did Jessica really die in a state of joy, I think not.

[@GrandDawggy]

I think that part was the mother deluding herself into the belief her daughter didn't die in abject terror. Poor kid, I hate those who endanger peoples lives.

[@barbaracollins5605]

Squatter as a job title was too good not to mention.

[@Ezinma88]

Isn't tiredness just as bad as being under the influence? Imagine being under the influence, at the same time as being 7 AND trying to fly a plane. Imagine your dad being the one to hand you the bottle and put you into the pilot seat. Poor Jessica. If only she were 10 years older, a flight adventure might have been a legitimate way to get the skills and experience needed to emancipate herself and get away from her reckless parents.

[@adorabellaperfecta3513]

It’s hard to be kind when faced with such stupidity that cost a child their life. Flying a plane is nothing like driving a car.

[@Deploracle]

Believe it or not, there is no minimum age for flight training in the USA. You must be at least 16 to fly solo. The reason there is no minimum age for flight training is because flying is actually easier than driving (the sky is largely empty space). I don't think there would be any harm in letting her fly around from time to time with her instructor. By the time she turned 16 she'd have considerable practical experience behind the yoke than most youngsters are equipped with. The issue, IMO, was her father's obsession with fame. Flying coast to coast and back would be like letting your 7-year old climb Mt Everest, unassisted. It's criminal really.

[@NPC-fl3gq]

​@@Deploracle As a former pilot, no, flying is not easier. I won't even bother explaining the many many reasons why. It should be obvious even to non pilots. And yes, I can drive cars.

[@Deploracle]

@@NPC-fl3gq I disagree. That Tennessee KZbinr, who honestly couldn't fly her way out of a wet paper bag, managed to stay alive long enough become KZbin famous. She couldn't have lived that long if flying was that difficult. .. and who said I don't fly airplanes?

[@NPC-fl3gq]

@@Deploracle A) I didn't say you weren't a pilot (are you!?) And B) if being KZbin famous is your bar for anything then your standards are very low. C) she's dead now. And not in a car crash. D) how many plane accidents do you think there would be if just as many people flew airplanes as they do drive cars!? E) having a mostly empty sky is not enough in itself to make someone safe in an aircraft. F) I can literally go on and on with endless reasons why you're unbelievably wrong, but I have better things to do.

[@NPC-fl3gq]

Not to mention that the experienced pilot, whom they think may have been PIC, crashed. Easy.

[@paladinkraus]

Living through your kids is sick, let them live, nuture their interests. She should be among us millennials today instead of being forever 7.

[@indiaandrews6996]

This parent reminds me of people on the Pacific Crest Trail who say their dog wants the hike 2,600 miles with them. No fool. 😂 You want your dog to hike 2,600 miles WITH YOU.

[@evelynwaugh4053]

You can't be serious. Your dog has 4 legs, and probably 10 times your stamina and interest in nature. As long as a hiker used protective canine foot gear and was cautious about heights and other dangers (heat/cold, insects, dogs need to be leashed around cliffs and predators), most conditioned dogs would have a blast. However, cats and dogs don't like skateboarding or surfing.

[@janpsillos5513]

I do feel sorry for the old dogs t hat are huffing and puffing with COPD.

[@jessicaolson490]

I mean they still got a point, the dog is not aware of the trail path, just follows along.

[@retsaMinnavoiG]

Many dogs love love love going on treks and many dogs have endurance far surpassing any human. Sure, if it's a little furball with no working dog in it than it's probably not going to enjoy it but a working dog breed loves that kind of thing.

[@ricardoveiga007]

Unbelievable history of irresponsability of father, pilot, authorities, and media! Tragic end of a child life

[@jaxbutterfly9186]

Dr. Grande I absolutely love aviation. This is super sad and some very poor parenting. Flying is to be handled with respect. So dang sad. 70 in Hawaii 🌴🌺

[@MooWuu]

Imagine having ur life taken away from you because of ur father’s greed and ur own mother stands up for it. They see no injustice in this and that’s terrifying, that poor lil girl had no chance.

[@ShiddyFinkelstein]

At least they all died doing what they or rather Lloyd loved doing, using his little girl as a money-making sensation in a dangerous activity. I wonder why he didn't choose cave diving or Russian roulette. She needed to be with her friends playing with dolls. Despicable excuse for a father.

[@qn3734]

This could have been avoided by, eh…staying at home. He did not deserve that child.

[@ModernDayPilgrim]

This is what happens when parents live vicariously through their children. 💔😢

[@BansheesBanshin]

He was using his child to fuel his own egomania. How deeply sad.

[@markmarsh27]

The day after it happened I saw her Mother on TV, SMILING with clear eyes while she said, "They both died doing what they loved. Who could ask for more than that?" How sick IS THAT???

[@JustMe-fo4ev]

People respond to trauma and/or grieve in different ways. I think you come off worse here for your comment.

[@stanhumphreys9282]

You're right. They did not die "doing what they loved." They died in abject terror before being smashed by the earth.

[@markmarsh27]

@@stanhumphreys9282 I QUOTED what the Mother said the day after the crash. Wake up dimwit!

[@AA-ed6ek]

@@nicolajane7389 Brave face my behind. You're sick.

[@Balletcalvero]

Ok so both parents were clearly low-key abusive. Poor girl.

[@fairymagic697]

I work for CPS & unfortunately a responsible adult didn't intervene.

[@stevis8264]

In addition to everything else wrong with this flight the Cessna 177 was a bad choice. With its laminar flow wing and all-flying stabilator it requires closer attention to the numbers (like stall speeds) than the more numerous 172. Lots of pilots have gotten into trouble by trying to fly the Cardinal as if it were a Skyhawk.

[@marcseclecticstuff9497]

I think 172 would have been a poor choice for this trip, too small, not enough margin. FIne if you're flying around the close to the ground, dangerous when you're over-weight, and potentially deadly at higher elevations where density altitude becomes a major factor. Not to mention the 10 weather related red flags associated with flying in April across the north. PIC had no mountain experience, not even IFR rated. I just can't comprehend why he would agree to this flight in any aircraft....

[@JJ-ui4ph]

That poor little girl never stood a chance. She had two horrible parents. It’s one thing for the father to sacrifice his own life for fame but it’s another to drag your child down with you. People talk down about the Kardashians but Kris never put those girls in danger. If you really want to be famous at least do it in a safe way for your children.

[@bergamottea1206]

I think the father was in it for the financial rewards of fame more than the fame itself. He saw an opportunity for a scam and went for it.

[@zebra2346]

Dr. Grande, Thank you for covering this case. I saw a lot of videos about this tragedy, but you pointed out something I'd never heard before. The fact that the PIC and the father should have skipped the interviews on the fateful morning ahead of bad weather but put their own glory above safety. When you see Jessica during her interview that morning, she was obviously terrified. You can see it. RIP Jessica, We love you

[@markiangooley]

Some fine pilots have started flying as children, but this whole endeavor seems ridiculous and dangerous.

[@AtomicBabel]

I remember this. Both parents were nuts. The mom was all about never limiting her children and thus never deny their wants. She did not believe in saying "no" to her children. At the funeral, the younger sibling was outside the venue, in the rain, pedaling a tricycle on the side walk.

[@zenawarrior7442]

So sad. Flying is risky without proper expertise & lack of ego. That age difference is terrible. Great points again. Thanks Dr G😊💟💟

[@MrStringybark]

I was going to write, "I hope this tragic young girl's mother is wracked with guilt" but not long after that thought came to me, you began to describe her mother and her personality. I then immediately thought she wouldn't feel any guilt. Some seconds after that you confirmed my instinct when you quoted her as saying, "that she hoped all of her children died in a state of joy". Is it possible for a mother to be so unaware and callous that she is incapable of picturing the real scene of her daughter's death? Not a scene of her daughter being in a state of joy but extreme horror, screaming as the ground comes toward her.

[@Stalemarshmallow]

Currently dealing with a narcissistic parent at work trying to project himself onto his daughter. Ugh

[@jui8792]

I heard the crash. It happened right down the road from my place. It was awful 😞

[@karljeffries4848]

I remember when this happened. I was at my uncle's house, he's a military pilot, or was at the time. He said that the way it ended was the only way it could have ended, and that anyone who flies light aircraft is suicidal. He then began making rather cruel jokes about their deaths. PTSD gives you a funny sense of humor, I guess.

[@chesterfinecat7588]

Don't need PTSD to laugh at general aviation screw-ups. If ego kept you aloft there'd never be another crash.

[@rosemadder5547]

​@@chesterfinecat7588 She's talking about gallows humor, not aviation screw ups

[@Flamsterette]

Gotta love a morbid sense of humor!

[@GeorgeSemel]

I don't know, I spent a 47 year career and living flying light aircraft, both airplanes and helicopters and I am far from suicidal. The only Cessna airplane I refused to fly is the C-177 Cardinal.

[@karljeffries4848]

@@GeorgeSemel I don’t know anything about light aircraft, just what my uncle thinks about light aircraft. He’s wrong about things as often as anyone else though.

[@HolyMoly432]

Not only did her mother say she died doing what she loved (think of her terror as she plummeted to the earth) but earlier when asked if her daughter was scared she said “Jessica doesn’t do worry”. She was completely insufferable. I remember hearing that they found her father in the position of his arms being wrapped around her from the backseat. I don’t know how they could tell that from the wreckage photo shown here, but I can only imagine how he might have felt. Poor Jessica. 💔

[@vintage6346]

His arms "wrapped around her from the back seat"...? Was he trying to protect his daughter? Or, maybe her father was using his daughter as a shield for himself.

[@rosemadder5547]

I never knew the power of sleep deprivation on our minds until I became an EMT. It legitimately makes it impossible to think straight, read straight, all kinds of things. And you don't catch it til you've probably messed up more times than you know.

[@ThePinkPanth3r]

I found out in highschool trying to take a math test on 45 minutes of sleep. Your brain kind of feels on fire and just useless.

[@bruceharkness4497]

No kidding, I occasionally went to one of our plants and worked all night through. Around 2-3AM I needed a calculator to add 1+1.

[@garymitchell5899]

​@@bruceharkness4497Staying up and functioning until 3am is perfectly possible for almost anyone. Pls tell me you don't have any responsibility at work.

[@garymitchell5899]

EMT admitting reckless negligence. Great.

[@bruceharkness4497]

@@garymitchell5899 No, I am retired now. Sleep deprivation is a real thing, when your waking and sleeping hours get swapped for a few days.

[@thomasturner8064]

Poor Jessica never had a chance. Even if the flight would have been a success her dimwitted irresponsible father and stepmother may have come up with another idiotic plan that would have put her in danger. The stepmom sounds like a real Einstein as well. Any parent that trys to to make a name or get rich for themself by living vicariously through their children needs to reevaluate themselves and their priorities. I realize alot of child actors and such come about in this manner, just you rarely hear about the kid having a normal happy life growing up. This is of course far, far worse. Some people just don't need to have children, period. Wish Jessica's real mom, the interviewers or somebody would have objected. Perhaps most of all the pilot should have known better.

[@Shannonbarnesdr1]

kids can and do fly safely, but with flight instructors, not with egotistical fathers, and while they can train when they are around 10, 11, 12 years old (individual maturity levels allowing of course) , but they cannot solo or be awarded a license until their 16th birthday.

[@A-FrameWedge]

She had a flight instructor who was in control of the plane.

[@debaser_666]

"...lived in the San Francisco Bay area..." summed it up.

[@j1947m]

Oh, come on...

[@tadghsmith1457]

This was so tragic.

[@robertgregory8936]

I’ve been a Sea Captain for decades, taking charter groups on adventure sails. Many non-sailors have come aboard with unrealistic plans that they developed over a coffee table with travel brochures and maps. They haven’t acquired the experience to assess weather, seas, vessel constraints and group dynamics. The Captain has to be that single person who firmly says, “No, we’re not going there at this time of year.” Or, “Not with this storm coming…”. Or, “Not with this group…”

[@michaelmedicworldoftanks33fps]

Precious young life destroyed by twisted narcissists 😢

[@kailaniandi]

She probably just loved him and wanted to make him happy. It's a unfortunate her parents didn't have better guidance

[@james9524]

I remember when this happened very clearly. I was kind of disappointed at first when I heard that Guinness would not recognize the attempt, because they didn't want to do anything that would encourage putting children at risk. I thought that having an experienced pilot right beside her would make the risk just as minimal as taking your child with you on a plane. I was dead wrong about that. I'm glad that they changed the law so that would never happen again.

[@lobstermash]

It doesn't just put children at risk. A plane falling out of control can fall on a crowd, a house, a bus ... killing and maiming a number of people.

[@james9524]

@@lobstermash In hindsight, it's pretty obvious that the actions of the pilot were reckless. With a better instructor I'm sure that the outcome would have been different, but there is no way a seven year old could have been expected to know who the right person for the job was, and just how clueless her father was.

[@judithgannon5642]

I've been remembering this. The news showed the little girl making a phone call just before the last take off. She mentioned the bad weather and was clearly frightened. Poor kid.

[@egoborder3203]

this is insane

[@michellesartori6695]

Here in Australia we have a road safety set of commercials and one of them says the following "never trust your tired self"! It's very true and most certainly impacted the poor decision to take off from Cheyenne, which the pilot made that day! As adults and as parents, we have a grave responsibility to keep our children safe whether they are our own children or other people's. They can not stand up for themselves, and this poor little girl was failed by all the adults surrounding her. Mum was a froot loop who thought that sharp kitchen knives were a better option for her 3 tear old than a doll and Jessica would have been raised in the same fashion. I cannot respond to the "mother's" parenting style in either of the 2 languages that I can swear in or my comment would be denied! Poor little Jessica is 3 months younger than the son I gave birth to in 1988 and while he was able to enjoy being a child during his childhood, Jessica, because she was SO unfortunate to be sired by these 2 moronic and selfish human beings has been in a grave for nearly 28 years and THAT is qrong! Thank you Dr Grande for reminding me of this tragic tale of adult neglect.

[@CNSTAdventures]

Classic case of Get-there-itis!