• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
Many Across the US Mourn the Death of NBA Legend Kobe Bryant and His Daughter: ‘An Unthinkable Day’

NTSB: Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash Likely Caused by Pilot's 'Spatial Disorientation'

February 14, 2021
‘A Blatant Lie’: Karoline Leavitt Skewers CNN After Forcing Network To Raise White Flag And Issue Correction

‘A Blatant Lie’: Karoline Leavitt Skewers CNN After Forcing Network To Raise White Flag And Issue Correction

June 23, 2025
Charlamagne Says ‘Politicians Sound Like Hypocrites’ For Backlash To Trump’s Iran Strike

Charlamagne Says ‘Politicians Sound Like Hypocrites’ For Backlash To Trump’s Iran Strike

June 23, 2025
Socialist Likely To Take Control Of Country’s Biggest City Thanks To Quirky Voting System, Poll Shows

Socialist Likely To Take Control Of Country’s Biggest City Thanks To Quirky Voting System, Poll Shows

June 23, 2025
Elite University Professor Wants ‘Symbolic’ Iranian Strike On US Base

Elite University Professor Wants ‘Symbolic’ Iranian Strike On US Base

June 23, 2025
Judge Really, Really Wants To Release Dems’ Favorite Suspected Human Smuggler

Judge Really, Really Wants To Release Dems’ Favorite Suspected Human Smuggler

June 23, 2025
Judge Orders Release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Before Trial on Smuggling Charges

Judge Orders Release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Before Trial on Smuggling Charges

June 23, 2025
AOC At Odds With Constituents Over ICE Raids

AOC Says Trump’s Attack on Iran ‘Grounds for Impeachment’

June 23, 2025
LA Sheriff’s Dept. Deletes Post After Offering Condolences for US Strikes on Iran

LA Sheriff’s Dept. Deletes Post After Offering Condolences for US Strikes on Iran

June 23, 2025
STEVE MILLOY: Trump Closes Notorious EPA Lab That Conducted Illegal Human Experiments

STEVE MILLOY: Trump Closes Notorious EPA Lab That Conducted Illegal Human Experiments

June 22, 2025
Report: Pete Hegseth Previously Investigated, ‘Cleared’ for ‘Alleged Sexual Assault’

Hegseth Calls Strikes on Iran ‘Incredible and Overwhelming Success’

June 22, 2025
How Iran Could Shake Up Global Economy In Response To US Strikes

How Iran Could Shake Up Global Economy In Response To US Strikes

June 22, 2025
Netanyahu Presents Fetterman With ‘Silver-Plated Beeper’

Israeli President Says Its ‘Not Dragging America’ into War With Iran

June 22, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Monday, June 23, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home Wire

NTSB: Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash Likely Caused by Pilot's 'Spatial Disorientation'

by Western Journal
February 14, 2021
in Wire
242 10
1
Many Across the US Mourn the Death of NBA Legend Kobe Bryant and His Daughter: ‘An Unthinkable Day’

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo/Reuters

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

National Transportation Safety Board officials last week pinned the blame for the January 2020 helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven other people on the helicopter’s pilot.

Ara Zobayan, the pilot, had 10 years of experience flying in the area. Before the Jan. 26 crash, the helicopter climbed severely before it banked and then slammed into a hillside near Calabasas in Southern California, according to Fox News.

The board ruled in a report that Zobayan’s mistakes began when he decided to fly under visual flight rules in cloudy conditions, meaning he needed to be able to see where he was going. The NTSB ruled that Zobayan’s “spatial disorientation” probably led to the helicopter going out of control, according to the report.

As a factor, the board further cited Zobayan’s “likely” self-induced pressure to get the 41-year-old former Lakers star, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and their guests from Orange County to a youth basketball tournament in Ventura County.

The NTSB also said Island Express, which owned the helicopter, was to blame for an inadequate review of safety management procedures.

But mostly the report focused on the pilot.

“As the helicopter climbed rapidly into the cloud layer and IMC [instrument meteorological conditions] while in a gradual left turn, the pilot’s associated loss of outside visual references made him susceptible to experiencing vestibular illusions (in which the vestibular system in the inner ear produces a false sense of helicopter attitude and trajectory) that can lead to spatial disorientation,” the NTSB ruled.

The report said Zobayan made mistakes because he was trying to complete his mission of getting Bryant to his destination.

“The pilot’s continuation of the accident flight into IMC was inconsistent with his typical judgment and decision-making behavior and was likely influenced by his self-induced pressure, lack of an alternate plan, and plan continuation bias,” the report said.

“The pilot’s poor decision to fly at an excessive airspeed for the weather conditions was inconsistent with his adverse-weather avoidance training and reduced the time available for him to choose an alternative course of action to avoid entering instrument meteorological conditions.”

The NTSB said the accident did not need to happen.

“This weather did not sneak up on the pilot,” Bill English, the lead investigator, told the board, adding that the pilot had the “very easy alternative” of landing at a nearby airport, according to The New York Times.

Flying under visual flight rules while going above the clouds was “legally prohibited,” but Zobayan “continued his flight into clouds,” NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

NTSB member Michael Graham said that when helicopters fly into the clouds under visual flight rules, “a certain percentage will not come out alive.”

Zobayan suffered a somatogravic illusion, according to Dr. Dujuan Sevillian, in which he thought the helicopter was climbing when it was not doing so.

“Our inner ear can give us a false sense of orientation,” Sevillian told the L.A. Times, adding that the issue is exacerbated when flying in clouds.

Although the NTSB said Bryant did not put pressure on the pilot to fly, the pilot felt it nevertheless, according to the New York Daily News.

“The relationship between the pilot and [Bryant] had turned into a friendship over the years. The client allowed the pilot to fly his children without him being present. That type of relationship was very close,” Sevillian said.

“This type of relationship that he had with the client can lead to self-induced pressure during the flight.”

Also killed in the crash were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli; his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, who assisted Bryant in coaching his daughter’s basketball team; Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton; and the pilot.

Alyssa and Payton were teammates of Gianna Bryant.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Tags: Sports
Share196Tweet123
Western Journal

Western Journal

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th