Kobe Bryant’s helicopter pilot was warned by the flight tower that the aircraft needed to fly higher before it hit a mountain, killing everyone aboard.
“Two Echo X-ray, you are still too low for flight following at this time,” the flight tower said. The tail number of Bryant’s helicopter was N72EX. The 41 year-old NBA legend perished along with his 13 year-old daughter in the crash.
Bryant’s chopper was flying in fog that was considered too dangerous for local police to put their own helicopters in the air, including the county sheriff’s department and the Los Angeles Police Department. “Kobe’s helicopter is 29 years old, and most Sikorsky S-76s fly with two pilots. On Sunday, Kobe had just one pilot, who was likely flying on visual flight rules, rather than using instruments to monitor altitude,” an aviation source said.
The crash occurred Sunday after the helicopter had circled for 15 minutes, waiting to be allowed to land at the Burbank Airport. The pilot then took the chopper up 2,000 feet and away from the airport before hitting a mountain at 185 mph.
“All the signs point to a [controlled flight into terrain], which is when an aircraft under the complete control of a pilot is inadvertently flown into the land, sea, or a building,” the aviation source said. “These accidents happen when the pilot loses situational awareness. The crash site also points to this; given how the debris is scattered, it looks like they went nose first into the mountain.”
Federal transportation safety investigators are inspecting the scene for details about the crash. Aviation experts said engine and mechanical failure will likely be ruled out because the helicopter had twin engines.
[Opinion: Media mangle and mishandle details of Kobe Bryant’s death]
