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Post by misssunnybunny on Jan 26, 2020 15:25:22 GMT -5
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Post by sadkat on Jan 26, 2020 15:48:48 GMT -5
My son called to tell me about it. Shocking news! My son grew up watching Kobe play. He is a fan and was quite upset about this news. Goes to show how short and fragile life can be. |
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Post by DryCreek on Jan 26, 2020 23:14:26 GMT -5
Very sad to hear.
One report says the chopper seemed to be having flight (engine?) problems and was at low altitude before it disappeared into a fog and impacted the hillside. (Which to all appearances was probably level enough to land on.)
An aviator friend of mine says that a common failure in private craft crashes is refusing to accept the situation and commit to having a “good crash” (a la Sully in the Hudson River), instead of struggling to recover / return to the field and creating a catastrophe.
Low visibility / instrument flight rules, plus engine problems, plus terrain warnings, in an aircraft that doesn’t glide... I can only imagine the chaos that pilot was fighting at the end.
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Post by worksforme2 on Jan 27, 2020 6:23:46 GMT -5
I have never been a fan of pro basketball. I prefer the round ball played in college, so I won't miss him for his athletic performances. But from what I observed over the years he seemed like a good man, and a great father. Something that every sport and endeavor could use more of, good men.
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Post by Handy on Jan 27, 2020 11:25:22 GMT -5
It sounds like several good people died in that helicopter crash. I don't follow any popular people so I only know of Kobe's name.
I am interested in reading all of the contributing factors that lead to the crash.
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Post by saarinista on Jan 30, 2020 0:44:05 GMT -5
It's odd to me that flight recorders are not required on commercial helicopters.
It's also interesting the the pilot did not ask for clearance to fly by instruments, though that doesn't necessarily mean that he wasn't using instruments, I guess.
I haven't been to metro LA in ages, but I vaguely recall how the fog hangs in the valleys. The elevations can change very quickly and in thick fog, a mountain can rise out of nowhere. Unfortunately, I guess terrain change warning devices are not required in helicopters, either.
Given that a chopper has the glide path of a rock🙄😕, perhaps they'll be required to have more safety equipment after this accident. Alas, it often seems people have to die before safety changes take place.
Kobe lived life to the max while he lived. May his passing be a reminder to all of us that each of our days are numbered.... ❤️🙏🏼
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Post by DryCreek on Jan 30, 2020 3:21:39 GMT -5
saarinista, conflicting stories... reports of erratic flight / mechanical failure / loss of control that seem consistent with the transponder details transmitted 2x/second. I’m inclined to believe the data. Google “flightaware” or “flightradar24” for 3D diagrams of the flight path. But, there are first-hand witnesses who could hear (but not see) the craft, that strongly suggest simple pilot error / disorientation - though this is questionable because not only was the pilot very experienced and rated for instrument (zero-visibility) flight, he was also an instrument-rating instructor. What does seem to be clear is that the weather was bad enough that police and news choppers were grounded. And there seemed to be some skirting of the rules for visual flight to avoid the delays of filing an instrument flight plan. Common sense was overridden; something aviators call “get-there-itis”, where safety gets skirted in the interest of schedule. Regardless... it’s a harsh reminder that no matter how successful you might be, life can change in an instant.
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