The Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash: Aviation Wrestles With Decades-Old Problem

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In this Jan. 27, 2020 photo, released by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigator Carol Hogan examines wreckage of a helicopter crash near Calabasas, Calif., that killed former NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.





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Pilot training is some of the most rigorous of all modes of transportation. Elizabeth White (L) practices landings with instructor Megan Brown at the airport in Auburn, Ala.





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Elizabeth White (L) and flight instructor Megan Brown stand by a Cessna 172 after a training flight in Auburn, Ala.





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Sports
NTSB: Kobe Bryant Helicopter Engine Did Not Fail Before Crash

He said pilots often feel pressure to complete a flight. «We think part of it is either consciously or subconsciously, when a pilot takes off in a desire to go fly somewhere, that goal is set in their mind in what’s in their mind as I need to achieve my goal and get to my destination.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigates aviation accidents including the Kobe Bryant crash — but doesn’t keep statistics on how often ‘get there itis’ factors in accidents. NTSB reports — going back decades — are filled with instances of pilots continuing on in deteriorating weather. (Last week, the NTSB released 1,700 pages of its investigation so far. The reports indicate Ara Zobayan, the pilot, might have been disoriented in fog. A final accident report isn’t expected for months.)

It’s a particular issue in general aviation and some on-demand charter operations.



Business
Kobe Bryant’s Death Puts A Focus On Helicopter Safety

The helicopter industry is working to prevent accidents like these. James Viola, president of Helicopter Association International, points to his organization’s safety campaign called «Land and Live which is designed to remind pilots to be smart and safe. «If we’re flying along and something’s just not going right — that we should land and reassess the situation. Airplanes can’t do that. We’d like to see helicopters use that ‘land and live’ program a lot more.

Viola said a safer option is landing in a field or a road to wait for the weather to improve or calling a taxi to get passengers to their destination.

It’s not clear why pilots press on and crash rather than diverting to fly another day.

Aviation is the safest kind of travel — by far. But as accidents like the Kobe Bryant crash show — it’s easy to make mistakes and the margin of error can be very small. And the psychological issues of flying aren’t something that can be easily fixed by legislation.