Kobe bryant imagesize 640x480 update#

It dropped off the radar at about 1,200 feet about sea level about 400 feet away from the crash site.Ī witness on the mountain bike trail told NTSB investigators that he heard a helicopter just prior to the crash. Eight seconds later the helicopter started descending at a rapid rate. Radar data shows the aircraft climbed to about 2,300 feet about sea level and turned left, the NTSB said in its investigative update. “There were no further transmissions,” the NTSB said. The pilot says he’s climbing to 4,000 feet.

Kobe bryant imagesize 640x480 update#

The pilot again asked for radar assistance and said he was climbing above the clouds, the NTSB investigative update said.Ī new controller had just taken over and asked the pilot to identify the flight, the NTSB said. “You’re still too low level for flight following at this time.” So you’re requesting flight following?” the controller asks. The pilot told air traffic control he was going to climb higher to avoid a cloud layer.Īn air traffic controller tries to contact the pilot, but gets no response. Cleared into Van Nuys Class D northeast of Van Nuys.”Īt one point, the pilot requested flight following, which is radar assistance for a flight that helps the pilot avoid traffic, NTSB member Jennifer Homendy said.īut the controller with the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT) told the pilot the helicopter was too low to provide flight following assistance, the NTSB said. The controller tells the pilot: “Wind calm, visibility 2 1/2, ceiling 1100 overcast, Van Nuys altimeters 30.16. The pilot contacts the Van Nuys tower: “Van Nuys, Helicopter 2EX with you for the special VFR transition. Later, the Burbank air traffic controller tells the pilot to switch to Van Nuys air traffic control. Kobe Bryant talks about coaching his daughter

The pilot confirms he heard the instructions: “Maintain special VFR at or below 2500, I-5 northbound.” Air traffic control tells the pilot to “follow the 5 Freeway” and maintain SVFR conditions. “OK, we’ll continue holding,” Zobayan replies.Ī NTSB member later said there was a delay because of traffic. Those granted permission typically keep closer contact with air traffic control.Īn air traffic controller says “it’s gonna be a little bit” before the pilot can continue. Pilots sometimes request SVFR clearance mid-flight if weather conditions suddenly change. Sunday morning, the Los Angeles Police Department had grounded its helicopters because of low visibility from fog. SVFR clearance allows a pilot to fly in weather conditions worse than those allowed for regular visual flight rules.

Young athletes, a baseball coach and moms were among the crash victimsĪir traffic control audio indicates the pilot, Ara Zobayan, had requested SVFR clearance, or special visual flight rules clearance. Orange Coast College (OCC) baseball coach John Altobelli died in the helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant early Sunday morning. The flight headed north-northwest at about 700 to 800 feet above sea level, per the NTSB investigative update. The helicopter was headed from the southern Los Angeles area to the northern Los Angeles suburbs. The Sikorsky S-76B helicopter takes off from Orange County, California, according to the flight tracking site. While federal investigators try to determine what caused the crash, excerpts of air traffic control recordings and the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigative update help build a timeline of what happened in the flight’s final moments on Sunday, January 26, 2020. It was the last time anyone on the ground heard from him. Seconds before the crash that killed all nine people on board, the pilot told air traffic control he was trying to avoid a cloud layer. Minutes before the crash, their pilot was trying to get special permission to fly though foggy conditions. Hours before their fatal helicopter crash, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were taking communion before an early-morning church service.