NTSB releases preliminary report on helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant
by Scripps National
CALABASAS, Calif. – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report Friday over the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others on Jan. 26.
However, the report doesn’t seem to provide many new details. A full report is expected several months from now.
The report released Friday says the Sikorsky S76B crashed into hilly terrain near Calabasas, California, at about 9:45 a.m. Upon impact, officials say a fire erupted, causing a brush fire.
The eight passengers and one pilot aboard the aircraft were fatally injured and the copter was destroyed, the NTSB said.
Authorities have identified the victims as Kobe Bryant, Gigi Bryant, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Alyssa Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, John Altobelli, Christina Mauser, and the helicopter’s pilot, Ara Zobayan.
The report doesn’t provide an official cause of the crash, but it does say weather at Van Nuys airport, about 14 miles away from the crash site, was reported as 1,100 feet overcast with 2 ½ miles of visibility.
The report says the flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 under visual flight rules from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, to Camarilla Airport in Camarillo, California.
The helicopter was operated by Island Express Helicopters.
Click here to read the full report.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.