Exactly. Happened to me recently when I went to pick an aircraft up. There had been a delay in getting the CofA. I had confirmation e mail that it had been signed, that it had been posted, but I did not have the original signed hard copy. To check pre flight, I called the issuer, who reminded me that the cert had to be in my hand, and on board the aircraft to be legal.I booked into a hotel, and waited until the original was with me. I then collected the aircraft. Reason-if it all went pear shaped the insurers would not pay out, and secondly, it was not legal.
This guy really should not have undertaken that flight. His experience level was very low, the aircraft was challenging, even in daylight VFR, and he had no ratings.
At night, IMC, over water
