Kobe Bryant Crash: Pilot Judgment Call Caused The Life Of NBA Legend

Roughly 380 days after the shocking death of NBA star Kobe Bryant, the possible cause of that helicopter crash is out. And based on the report shown by the National Transportation Safety Board, it is the decision-making of the chopper pilot to fly into marginal conditions that resulted in the deadly crash.

Per the report, the decision of Ara Zobayan to fly into dense fog and low-hanging clouds proved fatal. However, it should be noted that the pilot had clearance to fly under special visual flight rules. But this was under the condition that he could navigate below the cloud layer and navigate with his eyes.

It will be recalled that Zobayan flew the chopper into dense fog and low-hanging clouds. He ended up getting disoriented, lost control of the chopper that led to the crash.

Further, the company where Zobayan worked did not have the certification needed for him to fly into the clouds. This could have allowed him to navigate using only his helicopter’s instruments. He ended up getting squeezed between rising terrain and low-hanging clouds in the final minutes of the flight.

“There are really two types of disorientation,” NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said. “There's the type of disorientation like you are lost. You might think you are over the I-5 freeway but you are really over the 101. That is not the type of disorientation we are talking about here at all. We are talking about spatial disorientation where literally the pilot may not know which way is up or down, whether he or she is leaning left or right.”

Outside the report, there is the possibility of the pilot getting pressured to transport Bryant and the group to their place of destination. There is no evidence to show that the former Los Angeles Laker pressured Zobayan but the assumption was the pilot wanted to appease the late NBA star.

Regardless of what Zobayan decided to do, most felt that he could have made his own decision before proceeding. Though he wanted to fulfill his obligation, the fact is that lives were at stake. Such was part of Vanessa Bryant’s lawsuit, believing Zobayan acted with negligent conduct.

Zobayan is one of Kobe Bryant’s most trusted pilots, having flown the Lakers great over the years. Unfortunately, the decision the pilot made on Jan. 26 was one flight that tarnishes all that.