Bryant's helicopter pilot made a 'poor' call

LOS ANGELES • The helicopter crash that killed basketball star Kobe Bryant and eight other people in southern California last year was most likely caused by the pilot's decision to fly into clouds in violation of federal rules. That blinded him to his surroundings and caused him to lose control of the helicopter as he became disoriented, investigators said on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers great was killed on Jan 26, 2020, when the Sikorsky S-76 craft slammed into a fog-shrouded hill near Calabasas.

Everyone on board died, including the pilot, Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna, two teenagers who were on her basketball team, some of the children's parents and an assistant coach.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday issued 13 findings after a year-long investigation, concluding that the pilot, Ara Zobayan, lost his bearings and made a "poor decision" to fly at excessive speeds in bad weather.

His choices were probably influenced by his "self-induced pressure" to complete the trip, according to the agency, which also faulted what it said was a lack of review and oversight by his charter company, Island Express Helicopters.

Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the NTSB, said Zobayan was operating under rules that prohibited him from flying into the clouds, but that he had nonetheless tried to "punch up" above the clouds after encountering poor visibility.

He became so disoriented, investigators found, that when he indicated to air traffic controllers that he was trying to climb, he was actually turning left and beginning a rapid descent.

The close relationship between Bryant and Zobayan, who had flown the basketball star many times, may have made the pilot more eager to complete the flight, investigators said.

But they found no indication that anyone had pressured him to do so.

Investigators also found that he made several errors in the minutes and hours preceding the crash.

"This weather did not sneak up on the pilot," Bill English, the lead investigator, said, noting Zobayan had the "very easy alternative" of deciding the weather was too bad to continue and landing at an airport a few minutes away.

Bryant, an 18-time National Basketball Association All-Star, won five titles with the Lakers - his only team. He also earned two Olympic golds.

NYTIMES