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Yes, any pilot who's not incompetent would plan his flight. After getting weather information (very important), he would pick out way points along his planned route (landmarks if VFR, VOR beacons or other waypoints if IFR). IFR, this flight plan would be sent to the ATC system, and he would be cleared to follow this or another route given by ATC, and they would track him along the route to his destination.

This fellow was VFR and may or may not have filed a flight plan. He clearly made serious errors, the most egregious being his lack of fuel. His knowledge of the winds aloft may well have been inadequate, and his decision to cross the lake at night, rather than go around the lake could be questioned, although that's hindsight. Even if he hadn't runout of fuel, he could have had an engine faiure. They are not common, but the stakes are high.

In any event, the poor kid paid for it, RIP.