While many parents have high hopes for their children, one father’s ambition led to a trag!c outcome for his young daughter. Seven-year-old Jessica Dubroff and her father, Lloyd, shared a love for flying and aspired for Jessica to become the youngest person to pilot a transcontinental flight.
Jessica began taking flying lessons at the age of six, and by seven, her father and flight instructor, Joe Reid, had mapped out an ambitious 7,000-mile journey called “The Sea to Shining Sea,” which was expected to take eight days to complete.
Lloyd sought media attention for Jessica’s aspirations, striking several deals, including one with ABC News, which provided him with a video camera and blank cassettes to document the flight.
Despite safety concerns raised by Guinness World Records, the plan involved Jessica piloting a Cessna 177B Cardinal single-engine aircraft with her father and instructor on board, even though she had only accumulated 33 hours of flight experience.
The aircraft was equipped with dual flight controls, allowing instructor Joe to take over in case of emergencies. They began their journey on April 10, 1996, despite the concerns regarding the safety of the endeavor.
The first leg of their journey went smoothly, and the trio safely arrived in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they intended to spend the night before continuing their flight the following day.
However, the next day brought unfavorable weather conditions, prompting warnings to postpone their departure. Ignoring this advice, they decided to proceed with their flight—a choice that would have devastating consequences.
Given the challenging weather, it is believed that Joe was assisting Jessica during the takeoff. The plane ascended to about 100 feet before it suddenly began to descend, crashing onto a residential street.
Tragically, Jessica, her father, and her flight instructor were all k!lled instantly in the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the crash and identified several contributing factors. According to the NTSB report, the weather conditions, Jessica’s inexperience, and her fatigue were significant contributors to the incident.
The report indicated that during takeoff and the subsequent climb, the aircraft encountered strong crosswinds, moderate turbulence, and gusty winds, which the pilot in command was aware of prior to the flight. It noted, “The high density altitude and possibly the pilot in command’s limited experience with this type of takeoff contributed to the loss of airspeed that led to the stall.”
Additionally, the plan devised by Joe and Lloyd was characterized as “overly ambitious,” suggesting that their determination to adhere to it may have played a role in the decision to take off under questionable conditions in Cheyenne.