More details continue to emerge on the tragic accident involving the late Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his daughter a year after its occurrence. According to KSLA News, U.S. safety investigators have probed the incident and claimed that the pilot, Ara Zobayan, violated federal standards during the flight.
Zobayan was reportedly flying under visual flight rules which implied that he has to maintain visibility of the surroundings throughout the duration of the flight. The pilot steered the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter sharply on its ascend and broke near the clouds but the unit eventually plunged into the hills right below it which caused the accident.
The crash killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter along with seven other individuals including the pilot. According to reports, the helicopter also didn't have a black box which was a type of recording device often placed in choppers and similar vehicles. It could've been helpful to determine more clues regarding the incident but it was apparently not required to be placed inside Bryant's helicopter in the first place.
Article Continues BelowAs per the documents of the National Transportation Safety Board, Zobayan was an experienced pilot who often flew Bryant's helicopter flights in the past. However, he may have “misperceived” the angles on the ascend and descend of the helicopter during that day due to low visibility on the area. The board also claimed that there were no signs of mechanical failure and that the incident was purely accidental.
All passengers on board departed from Orange County en route to a basketball tournament in the Mamba Sports Academy located in Ventura County, California back on Jan. 26, 2020.