Kobe Bryant pilot warned ‘you’re too low’ before 185mph crash in fog that grounded most flights day NBA star was killed

THE PILOT of the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant was told "you're too low" before it smashed into a hillside in fog.

The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers legend was killed along with his daughter Gianna, 13, when the chopper hit the ground at 185mph.

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Audio between the pilot of Kobe's Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, which had the tail number N72EX, and air traffic control reveals he was flying under "special visual flight rules," or SVFR.

The SVFR clearances allows pilots to fly in weather that is worse than the standard "visual flight rules" and are issued when cloud ceilings are below 1,000 feet above ground level.

The air traffic control tower at Burbank Airport told the pilot to move northeast using the special clearance, according to audio .

"Maintain special VFR at or below 2,500," the pilot is heard confirming.

Prior to obtaining the special clearance, the pilot was using his eyesight to see the terrain below the helicopter.

Shortly before the crash, the pilot was told "you're too low".

“Two echo x-ray you are still too low for flight following at this time," the controller says.

Questions remain about why the aircraft was flying when most helicopter traffic was grounded, including the LAPD's own fleet, due to the foggy conditions.

Who made the decision to fly in such treacherous weather will almost certainly form a part of any investigation.

The pilot circled above Burbank Airport for about 15 minutes before setting off on its final, fateful leg of its journey.

"Hold outside Burbank, I have an aircraft," an air traffic control tower employee said as Bryant's helicopter tried to land.

"He's been holding for about 15 minutes," a flight tower employee said around 9.30am.

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The pilot, Ara Zobayan was said to be certified to fly in foggy weather.

Per audio from before the crash, Zobayan said: "OK, we'll continue holding."

In the moments before the crash, the helicopter climbed to 2150 feet and then hit the mountain at 1700 feet.

Attempting to fly around mountains, such as those that surround LA, in fog has led to many helicopter crashes.

TREACHEROUS FOG

A detailed analysis of the flight path by, shows the pilot attempting to negotiate hilly ground while flying visually.

“When you get in the soup, your senses don’t work," said Paul Cline, assistant professor of aviation at New York University.

The helicopter plunged into a rugged hillside Sunday with an impact that scattered debris over an area the size of a football field and killed everyone aboard.

Audio between the pilot and air traffic control reveal that air traffic controllers were attempting to guide the helicopter, but lost contact moments before its fatal fall.

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As well as his daughter, Bryant was travelling with, college baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, and their daughter Alyssa along with one of the coaches at Kobe's youth academy, Christina Mauser.

The other two passengers were later revealed to be Sarah and Payton Chester.

Mauser was married to Tijuana Dogs singer Matt Mauser, who confirmed the news himself.

"My kids and I are devastated,” he wrote on Facebook.

“We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash. Please respect our privacy. Thank you for all the well wishes they mean so much."

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Phillipe Lesourd, an experienced helicopter pointed out that the dismal conditions, caused by a heavy blanket of fog, had caused problems for other aircraft.

"You can hear the controller saying that it had an 'ad go around,' that means an aircraft already cancelled its landing because of low visibility," said Phillipe.

"That is not a good sign."

Witnesses said they felt the impact of the crash but were unable to see the helicopter.

Calabasas resident Matt Graham told People: "I was sitting on my couch when I heard it go over our roof. I thought to myself, 'Wow they're flying really low today.'
"It must've been about 100 feet above our roof by the way the house was shaking. I couldn't imagine why a helicopter was flying so low."

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DAY TRIP

Kobe's helicopter took off from Long Beach at 8:29 a.m PST on Sunday, then touched down again just eight minutes later in Orange County.

It is believed the stop was to pick up Bryant and the other passengers.

The helicopter then took off again 30 minutes later at 9:06 a.m. PST but never reached its final destination.

It was just 20 minutes into the flight when the plane began to circle in Burbank while speaking with flight control.

The pilot was then told to try and follow the freeways to the aircraft's final destination of Camarillo.

This plan initially proved to be successful, with the when it suddenly began to encounter problem in Calabasas.

Records show that at this point, the helicopter, which had stayed below 1000 feet for most of the trip, began to ascend as it approached the Santa Monica Mountains.

The plane was at 1750 feet and travelling at a speed of 161 knots when it crashed at around 9:47 am PST, killing all on board.

An and is being spearheaded by the LA County Sheriff's Office and the National Safety and Transportation Board.

Press conferences were given at 2 pm PST and later 8 pm PST with updates, but officials were able to provide little information pending further investigation.

It was noted however that the terrain in the area of the crash is so treacherous that it will take officials a week before recovery efforts are complete.

Kobe had chartered a helicopter to take him and daughter GiGi to a travel basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.

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FAREWELL TO A LEGEND

The NBA great had been at the same tournament one day prior, where he was photographed by a number of other parents who marvelled at the fact that the 18-time All Star was coaching his daughter's team.

It was an emotional scene at the facility on Sunday when word came down that Kobe and eight others had lost their lives.

"Closed" signs were placed on the doors and flowers lined the outside of the buildings.

Back in Los Angeles, to pay tribute to Kobe on the same night as the Grammy Awards.

Buildings across Los Angeles light up in the yellow and purple, including City Hall, with Mayor Eric Garcetti writing: "Lights for a legend."

Kobe was also by three US presidents on Sunday - Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

"Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!" wrote Donald on Sunday afternoon, before the number of crash victims had been revealed by authorities.

Barack posted a short time later, writing: "Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day."

Athletes, actors and people around the world also rushed to express their love for Kobe and

condolences for his wife Vanessa and their three surviving daughters.

The , and not at all surprising according to NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning,” said Silver.

"But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.”

The news even brought .

FAMILY TRIBUTES

Bryant’s visibly shocked stepfather-in-law Stephen Laine - who helped raise Bryant's wife Vanessa - told The Sun: “I just found out and can’t say much, just that I wish the family well. I just heard on the news that Gianna died as well. It’s terrible.

“My heart goes out to Vanessa and the kids.”

His meanwhile told The Sun that she was unable to speak in the wake of this tragedy.

A man who spoke outside Kobe's sister Sharia's house in Las Vegas told The Sun: "Right now they have nothing to say but they are obviously heartbroken.
"There will not be any comments from the family right away.
"At some point the family will be reaching out but right now we are all in shock. Right now they're just trying to be a family."

Vanessa and his three surviving children have issued no statement as of Sunday night as they cope with the loss of their husband, daughter,father and sister.

Christina was remembered by her husband, who wrote on Facebook: “My kids and I are devastated,” her husband, Matt Mauser. We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash.”

The Altobelli family was remembered by John's brother and his employer.

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FATAL CHARTER

The helicopter, a twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B built in 1991, was owned and operated by Island Express Holding Corp.

That company largely makes flights from Orange County to Catalina, and had been Kobe's charter of choice for years.

The company has been linked with two fatal crashes — including one in 2008, where a Eurocopter AS 350 helicopter filled with sightseers crashed, killing three people and injuring three others.

Federal officials concluded that a turbine blade fatigue fracture was the probable cause of the accident.

Back in 1985, a helicopter operated by Island Express collided with another helicopter from San Pedro after picking up passengers in Avalon, Catalina’s largest town. One person was killed and 11 people were injured.

The particular plane he was travelling on seats up to 14 people, and has an impeccable safety record one of the pilots .

A former pilot, Kurt Deetz, said the crash was probably due to bad weather, rather than mechanical problems.

“The likelihood of a catastrophic twin-engine failure on that aircraft — it just doesn’t happen,” Deetz told the Times.

Deetz added the helicopter was in "fantastic" condition, as he had logged more than 1,000 hours in it, and said Island Express has a "very good maintenance program."

First responders were quick to prevent a second tragedy form occurring after arriving on the scene when they managed to quickly put out the rapidly spreading fire caused by the impact of the crash.

"Our firefighters hiked into the accident site with their medical equipment and hose lines to extinguish the stubborn fire as it included the brush fire … and the helicopter,” said LA County Fire Chief Daryl Osby.

“The fire also included magnesium, which is very hard for firefighters to extinguish because magnesium reacts with oxygen and water.”

The investigation will now look closely at both the aircraft and the pilot in determining the cause of this fatal flight.

That pilot was beloved by many, who expressed their shock and sadness.

";Thank you for being such great motivation while I was getting my PPL," said one.

"Thanks for always chatting with me when you flew in 72 and inspiring me to become a great helicopter pilot. Everyone will really miss you."

INVESTIGATION

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.

Lockheed Martin said it was also investigating the incident, as Sikorsky is owned by the defense contractor.

Sikorsky tweeted: "We extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by today’s Sikorsky S-76B accident in Calabasas, California."

"We have been in contact with the NTSB and stand ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer."

"Safety is our top priority; if there are any actionable findings from the investigation, we will inform our S-76 customers."

The NTSB said investigators plan to look at the pilot's history, the maintenance records, and any other information on the helicopter's owner and operator.