It has been confirmed this week that the cause of the fatal helicopter crash claiming the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others was due to the pilot facing a situation of “spatial disorientation” in limited visibility.
The pilot initially climbed to 4,000 feet in Kobe Bryant’s helicopter, but then made a rapid descent in a left turn, a maneuver consistent with spatial disorientation, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials on Tuesday.
In January of last year, Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and the other passengers were on their way to a youth basketball tournament in Ventura County when the helicopter tragically crashed into a hillside in Southern California.
During a virtual hearing, NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt highlighted that the pilot was legally prohibited from flying into clouds but chose to do so regardless. The pressure to complete the flight and maintain a good relationship with the client may have influenced the pilot’s decision-making.
The board will further discuss the issue of spatial disorientation, a phenomenon that can confuse pilots when they lose visual reference, and consider what training methods could be effective in addressing this challenge.
No evidence of catastrophic mechanical failure was found in the examination of the helicopter’s engines and rotors following the crash.
In total, 184 fatal aircraft accidents have been attributed to spatial disorientation, with 20 involving helicopters.
Vanessa Bryant, along with the other families affected by the tragedy, has placed blame on the pilot and the companies responsible for the ownership and operation of the helicopter.
