US safety investigators have revealed that the pilot of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter flew into clouds last year in an apparent violation of federal standards and likely became disoriented just before the helicopter crashed, killing Bryant and eight others.
During a hearing to specify the likely cause or causes of the crash, Robert Sumwalt, the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said Pilot Ara Zobayan was flying under visual flight rules, which meant that he needed to be able to see where he was going.
Zobayan piloted the aircraft to climb sharply and had nearly broken through the clouds when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into the Southern California hills below, killing all aboard. The helicopter did not have the “black box” recording devices, which were not legally required.
The crash has generated lawsuits and countersuits with the revelation coming after plenty of finger-pointing from various parties. Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant had blamed the pilot. She and relatives of the other victims also faulted the company that owned and operated the helicopter.
The brother of the pilot said Kobe Bryant knew the risks of flying in a helicopter and that his survivors aren’t entitled to damages from the pilot’s estate. The helicopter companies have also said that foggy weather before the helicopter hit the ground was an act of God and blamed air traffic controllers.
Lakers Legend, Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and six other passengers were flying from Orange County to a youth basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Ventura County on January 26, 2020, when the helicopter encountered thick fog in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.
The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into hills below, killing all nine aboard instantly before flames engulfed the wreckage. The NTSB had previously ruled out mechanical failure, saying the crash was believed to have been an accident. The helicopter had no Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), which would have told the pilot when the aircraft was in danger of crashing.
The NTSB has recommended that these be mandatory for all helicopters, instead of just air ambulances as is currently the case. Politicians have also sponsored the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act to mandate the system on every helicopter that carries six or more passengers.
However, NTSB investigator-in-charge Bill English said during the hearing that the TAWS, would likely not have been helpful in the scenario in which Bryant’s helicopter crashed.
“The hilly terrain, combined with the pilot’s spatial disorientation in the clouds, would have been a confusing factor. The pilot doesn’t know which way is up.”
According to NTSB documents, federal investigators said Zobayan, an experienced pilot who often flew Bryant, may have “misperceived” the angles at which he was descending and banking, which can occur when pilots become disoriented in low visibility.
Investigators then faulted Zobayan for banking to the left instead of ascending straight up while trying to climb out of the bad weather. The others killed in the crash were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, who helped Bryant coach his daughter’s basketball team; and Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton. Alyssa and Payton were Gianna’s teammates.
