Surely the SAR people would have known who they rescued and who was on the aircraft?
The insurance would have discovered that! I am not aware whether there was one pilot or two?
If one then there is no dispute who was in command and fairly straightforward to check their licences, medicals claimed hours etc over what was supplied for the Ferry quote.
There were two pilots aboard. Weaver gave the name but identities were not confirmed by documentary proof by SAR.
Weaver filled in the flight plan claiming he was the captain. After the crash he claimed the other pilot was.
Weaver only held a single IR at the date of the crash. The route demanded a multi IR to be legal.
The insurers stipulated that Weaver was the pilot insured for the journey, prior to the crash they and the company who employed Weaver had missed that his IR was for single engine aircraft only.
This was in no way the owners fault, he had contracted another ferry company to do the ferry flight. They had sub contracted the job to Weaver.
I have no doubt that the insurers will seek recompense for Weavers actions. At the very best it was (on his part) stupidity, at worst intentional fraud. A criminal trial will be needed to let a Judge and Jury decide.
Weaver diid not report the crash.