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Yep that’s as simple as it gets. Instead of driving thru traffic, he wanted something more convenient but ultimately more dangerous and he paid the price.
Even if I was a billionaire I’d never take a helicopter instead of driving. Kobe did this regularly, probably got used to it thinking it was safe and it wasn’t, especially in fog.Comment -
What kind of impact do you think Kobe’s death will have on the NBA? I’m talking about long term. I fully expect the NBA to retire both his #’s and no one will be allowed to wear #24 or #8. Also expect a statue very soon in front of Staples. This one is a bit more far fetched, but I agree with it. Turn the NBA logo into Kobe. The current logo is Jerry West and I’m sure he would have zero problem with it.Comment -
LA TIMES
The helicopter that crashed Sunday morning in Calabasas, killing Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others on board, had the feel of a limousine and boasted a strong safety record, said the basketball star’s former pilot.
Kurt Deetz, a former pilot for Island Express Helicopters, told The Times he flew Bryant from 2014 to 2016. Nine times out of 10, he said, Bryant flew in “Two Echo X-ray” — the Sikorsky S-76B, tail No. N72EX, that went down Sunday morning. When Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016, he flew out of downtown Los Angeles in the same helicopter, wrapped in a gray-and-black paint scheme with his Mamba emblem on the side, Deetz said.
Deetz, who said he spent more than 1,000 hours flying the craft that crashed Sunday, called its condition “fantastic.” Island Express follows a “very good maintenance program,” he said. The helicopter was owned by Island Express, according to Deetz.
Bryant favored the S-76B, Deetz said, which he compared to “a Cadillac, a limousine — it’s limo-esque.” The model is preferred by celebrities and known as comfortable and safe, he said. Its sister model, the S-76A, “is more like a work truck,” he said.
Deetz said weather conditions were poor in Van Nuys on Sunday morning — “not good at all.”
The crash was more likely caused by bad weather than engine or mechanical issues, he said. “The likelihood of a catastrophic twin engine failure on that aircraft — it just doesn’t happen,” he said.
Judging from a public record of the flight path and the wide debris field, Deetz said that it appears the helicopter was traveling very fast at the time of impact, about 160 mph.
After a 40-minute flight, Deetz added, the craft would have had about 800 pounds of fuel on board. “That’s enough to start a pretty big fire,” he said.
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I read that Kobe and his wife made a pact not to ever go in a helicopter together which is smart and showed they knew it was dangerousComment -
I think the fog is the reason I crashed that’s what the experts say, I would think if that so they didn’t even know they were going to hit mountainComment -
^ How does fog make a heli spin out of control and plummet to the ground? Looked like mechanical error to me when looking at the crash vid..
Alot of fuel on the heli.. Too bad the pilot couldn't purge the fuel out on the way down, maybe a few could have survived.
I think the big fuel fire ball explosion upon ground impact was the killer in the end for Kobe and all on board...Comment -
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My heart aches for the communities in California that lost so many vibrant people yesterday. Keeping all the victims’ families and friends in my thoughts during this devastating time.<a href="https://t.co/tuLTUTSCK6">https://t.co/tuLTUTSCK6</a></p>— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1221841613468700674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" >January 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Comment -
Conspiracy theory update - Let me take a wild shot at it.....
Someone on board had a death wish or more likely kids were playing games inside and bum rushed the cockpit pilot area and hit the heli control stick sending it spiraling down and out of control..
Lot of kids on board ruff housing maybe? Kobe on the cell phone and or texting and not paying attention perhaps?Comment -
Where is videoComment -
Is this the longest thread on SBR forum ever with as many posts in so short a time?Comment -
Pilot was flying without instruments, following highways, basically his gps at that point with the fog and visibility. Highways fall off as you hit mountains, ascended to 2k feet to be safe, hit the cloud ceiling, couldn’t see jack - pulled a common copter move and 180’d to try and get back under the clouds (hence the hard move left and down). Thought he had more altitude to work with, but flying no instruments, was essentially guesstimating....sadly he was off. Explains why he hit mountain full speed, nose first, with no mayday - likely didn’t see it until last second. Probably felt like a normal maneuver for passengers in the back.Comment -
i'm not a rocket scientist or anything but have a little common sense, when it's foggy outside and u can't see as well u slow down don't drive as fast, why is the helicopter going 150 mph
they shouldn't of even been out that day should of stayed home or different transportationComment -
This is perhaps the worst sports news in history. Certainly the worst basketball news topping magics HIV announcementComment -
Kobeeeeeeeeee!!!Comment -
I remember Magic and his HIV announcement.. It was like he died.. He was still playing and in his prime..
I was ruined as a younger dude hearing that news. Magic was my Laker ultimate basketball idol growing up. Showtime Lakers were the best!!!
Magic was a 6'9 point guard and was shiiits...
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Holy fukk Jibby cracks me up.
Posting videos from other crashes and his best guess is Kobe was flying and texting and the kids were horsing around in the back.Comment -
Jibbs has me rolling too right now.
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