sounds like the guy out here in western ND who decided to take off in freezing fog with a wet PPL at night and ran into a hill. The hill won. Sometimes people just make bad decisions and at that age, most thinks they are bullet proof. I did as well and it is a miracle that i am still around. thank fully i wised up when i saw the early warning signs (some people disagree
).
reminds of a situation I witnessed first hand :
During my early PPL, one day i was at the school, late afternoon, discussing various theory of flight with my primary CFI who was also the assistant chief flight instructor. Early March - freezing level at zero agl, winds were howling at some 27G35 with 011 OVC with some precip moving in. 4 guys showed up, 1 was a recent PPL with his 3 other friends, all seem like are in college and in sports - big dudes. The "pilot" had asked the 172 to be filled up to the brim for a cross country to MN to watch some game. as we talk in my CFI's office, we hear some verbal altercations going on outside - the guy is adamant on flying. his logic was it was VFR most of his route and his plan was to ask for a SVFR departure and then climb to altitude after Alexandria. We looked at skyvector and AXN was showing MVFR, KMSP was IFR, his destination was KSTP which was MVFR at best.
My CFI goes out and tells them that no way even he will fly that mission without a FIKI, but the invincible 19 year old wont listen. after some raising of voices and statements like "i would just like to pay for the rental and get out of here before the game starts" conversation , the chief flight instructor (and the DPE) comes out of his office and very calmly said that he has grounded all school aircrafts and to go pound sand.
i strongly believe 4 lives were saved that day.