Pilot in Kobe crash violated flight rules -NTSB

Video Credit: Reuters - Politics
Published on February 9, 2021 - Duration: 01:55s

Pilot in Kobe crash violated flight rules -NTSB

The pilot in the January 2020 helicopter crash that killed retired NBA star Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others was "legally prohibited" from flying into clouds but did so anyway, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board's chairman said on Tuesday.


Pilot in Kobe crash violated flight rules -NTSB

It was a tragedy that perhaps could have been avoided.

That was the conclusion Tuesday by National Transportation Safety Board, which cited the actions of the pilot as the probable cause of the January 2020 helicopter crash that killed retired NBA star Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others… explaining that the pilot became disoriented and did not follow rules for flying in cloudy weather.

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt: “He was flying under Visual Flight Rules - or VFR - which legally prohibited him from penetrating the clouds.

However, as we've seen in so many accidents, this pilot continued his VFR flight in the clouds.” The NTSB cited Pilot Ara Zobayan's decision to continue to fly in unsuitable weather conditions as resulting in his (quote) "spatial disorientation and loss of control." “We’re talking about special disorientation, where literally the pilot may not know which way is up or down, whether he or she is leaning left or right.” Zobayan told air traffic controllers that his helicopter was climbing out of heavy clouds when in fact it was descending, immediately before slamming into a hillside near the town of Calabasas in California.

Zobayan was among those killed in the crash of the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter outside Los Angeles in hilly terrain.

The NTSB said previously that an examination of the helicopter's engines and rotors found no evidence of catastrophic mechanical failure.

Forty-one year-old Bryant, an 18-time NBA all-star with the Los Angeles Lakers, was traveling with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, two other girls and several others to a youth basketball tournament at the time of the crash.

The accident prompted an outpouring of shock and grief from sports fans worldwide.

You are here


💡 newsR Knowledge: Other News Mentions



National Basketball Association

North American professional men's basketball league
Draymond Green was ejected from yet another NBA game Wednesday night -- this time for screaming at a ref -- and Steph Curry was so upset that it happened again,..
Credit: TMZ.com - Published 1 day ago

Before this Houston native throwin' up deuces for the camera turned into a professional basketball player, he was just a star and the captain of his high school..
Credit: TMZ.com - Published 1 day ago

Ice Cube clearly thinks Caitlin Clark can succeed in the Big3 ... but one man who's convinced she can't is ex-NBA star Kenyon Martin, who said Wednesday she..
Credit: TMZ.com - Published 2 days ago

Watch highlights as the Atlanta Hawks stage a stunning comeback from 30 points down to beat the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 120-118.
Credit: BBC Sport - Published 3 days ago


Los Angeles

Largest city in California, United States
Lala Kent has taken the plunge and become the latest "Vanderpump Rules" star to plunk down roots in the San Fernando Valley ... 'cause TMZ has learned she's..
Credit: TMZ.com - Published 6 hours ago

Diddy's Los Angeles estate is attracting tons of visitors this week -- besides the feds who raided the place, and really because of them, tourists are desperate..
Credit: TMZ.com - Published 1 day ago

It's Hump Day, but we're gonna push through here at TMZ ... by recapping our TV topics. Let's start with "TMZ Live," where Harvey and Charles continued to..
Credit: TMZ.com - Published 2 days ago

A guy went viral after rolling up to the Diddy raid in L.A. claiming to be his next-door neighbor, while also alleging to have witnessed unseemly things  -- but..
Credit: TMZ.com - Published 3 days ago

The army of federal law enforcement officers did a number on Diddy's L.A. home, and the video shows clearly the mansion was turned upside down. TMZ has obtained..
Credit: TMZ.com - Published 3 days ago

Related videos from verified sources

Pilot responsible for Kobe Bryant death 00:57
Video credit: FOX 4 Now Florida - Published on February 10, 2021 

Pilot in Kobe Bryant crash likely had 'spatial disorientation'; NTSB calls for training, recording 02:12
Video credit: KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas - Published on February 10, 2021 

NTSB Finds Pilot in Kobe Bryant Crash Violated Federal Standards, Likely Became Disoriented 01:41
Video credit: CBS2 LA - Published on February 10, 2021 

You might like