Yes. Though he only had 50 hours total time, and that plane - a relatively high speed, retractable, turbocharged piston - is way too much to handle for someone

Yes. Though he only had 50 hours total time, and that plane - a relatively high speed, retractable, turbocharged piston - is way too much to handle for someone with only 50 hours. From accounts, it sounds like he stalled the plane on climbout. He claims his girlfriend leaned on the controls, which doesn't make a lot of sense, because leaning on the yoke would push the nose down, preventing a stall. Who knows what actually happened. But yes, a novice pilot with a fast, sophisticated plane is asking for trouble.