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.
"Maintain special VFR at or below 2,500," the pilot is heard confirming.
“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.
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."
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."
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.
Buildings across Los Angeles light up in the yellow and purple, including City Hall, with Mayor Eric Garcetti writing: "Lights for a legend."
"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."
, 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.”
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.
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.
KOBE'S HELICOPTER
The helicopter was registered and operated by Island Express Holdings and Island Express Helicopters, which runs a fleet of helicopters that fly the 15-minute tourist route between San Pedro, CA, and Santa Catalina Island.
The company has been linked with two fatal crashes inlcuding one in 2008, where a helicopter filled with sightseers crashed on the west coast of Santa Catalina Island, killing three people and injuring three others.
The tour helicopter, a Eurocopter AS 350, operated by Island Express was carrying five passengers and a pilot.
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.