I am surprised that so many people feel like gaRCfield bears the responsibility in this crash.    Any time passing the transmitter back and forth is required there is great risk of a crash.      In my opinion gaRCfield bears no responsibility, he gave the plane to the man in a trimmed condition at high altitude.       The key part of this is, the plane owner had successfully soloed, its not like he was a raw beginner.</p>

In hindsight gaRCfield would certainly choose a different route, but at the time hindsight was not available.</p>

The learning experience is that gaRCfield will be very hesitant to fly and trim another person's plane and the other gentleman now knows he is not ready to fly alone.   Its unfortunate that this has happened but at some point who ever owns the plane has to be responsible for their own actions.       When I was learning it was clearly stated that the instructors would do their very best not to allow the plane to crash, but in the event that it did the instructors were not responsible for replacing or repairing the plane.      I never even thought to question this arrangement, it seemed (and still does) to be very reasonable.      Asking a random person at the field for help does not transfer responsibility for not crashing to that person.</p>