What we know: The latest details of helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant
Tom Schad, USA TODAY Tom Schad
Tragedy struck sports world Sunday with Kobe Bryant's death. Here are latest details about the California helicopter crash that killed nine people.
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/sites/usatoday/images/favicon.png
USA TODAY
New details continue to emerge about the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in Calabasas, California, on Sunday afternoon.

As fans mourn the sudden death of one of the NBA's iconic athletes, authorities are still in the early stages of investigating the crash and its potential causes — a process that could take several weeks.

Multiple federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, have joined local authorities in their efforts to understand what caused the helicopter to slam into a hillside, killing all nine people aboard.

KOBE BRYANT COVERAGE: Get the updates delivered to your inbox. Sign up here

Here are the latest details on the crash, as of Monday.

NTSB updates first day of investigating Kobe Bryant crash

NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy told reporters Monday evening the helicopter took off from John Wayne Airport. Near Burbank, the pilot requested a special visual flight rule, which had to be authorized by an air traffic controller. It allows an aircraft to proceed in controlled airspace at less than the basic visual flight rule, which includes a minimum flight ceiling of 1,000 feet and 3 miles of visibility.

While awaiting that approval, the helicopter circled for 12 minutes, then the special visual flight rule go-ahead was given.

The aircraft then went south and west at 1,400 feet, Homendy said. The pilot requested flight following from air traffic control but was informed the helicopter was flying too low for that to be possible. Flight following is ongoing surveillance information assistance from air traffic control and could include situational awareness and location of nearby aircraft.

Investigators determined the helicopter had climbed to 2,300 feet and began turning left. The last radar contact was 9:45 a.m. PT. and is "consistent with the accident location."

Homendy said no cause of the crash had been determined and that a cause would likely not be identified this week. She was confident the investigation will yield the root of the accident.

The pilot had a commercial certificate and was also a flight instructor. As of July 2019 he had accrued 8,200 hours of flight time. “It’s an experienced pilot,” Homendy said.

Extensive debris field, no black box

Homendy said the impact crater is 1,085 feet above sea level. The debris field is about 500-600 feet wide, Homendy said.

“It was a pretty devastating accident scene,” Homendy said.

There was no black box and no requirement to have one aboard the aircraft, according to Homendy. An iPad that had flight assistance applications on it has been recovered.

Crash site being monitored

“We’ve had an inordinate amount of interest in the crash site,” LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.

Police had to deter citizens Sunday who arrived at the site. Officers are patrolling the rugged terrain on horseback, Villanueva said, and it is a misdemeanor for anyone to trespass the perimeter.

The coroner’s office began recovering human remains Sunday night, Villanueva said. That process is still ongoing. The sheriff's department has been in contact with the victims' families, but Villanueva did not publicly name any of the victims, including Bryant.

NBA postpones Lakers-Clippers game

The NBA announced it has postponed Tuesday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, in the wake of Bryant's death.

"The decision was made out of respect for the Lakers organization, which is deeply grieving the tragic loss of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash on Sunday," the league said in a statement.

The NBA added that the game will be rescheduled at a later date.

ESPN to re-air Bryant's final game

ESPN is honoring Bryant's death by rebroadcasting the final game of his NBA career at 9 p.m. ET on Monday night, the network announced.

Bryant scored 60 points in that 2016 game, against the Utah Jazz, and played 42 minutes in the Los Angeles Lakers' 101-96 win that night.

All victims' identities now known

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva declined to immediately name the nine victims of the crash Sunday, but six have now been identified through official channels, and three by family members or news outlets.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the deaths of Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, known as "GiGi," in a statement. Orange Coast College confirmed that its baseball coach, John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and one of their two daughters, Alyssa, were also aboard the helicopter.

The other victims were Christina Mauser, an assistant girls basketball coach, and Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton. The pilot has been identified by multiple news reports as Ara Zobayan.

Was weather a factor in the crash?

Authorities are still investigating potential causes of the crash, but foggy conditions might have played a role.

Villanueva said low clouds and fog in the area prompted the sheriff's office to ground its helicopters Sunday morning. The Los Angeles Police Department took similar precautions.

"We do know there was an issue with visibility and a low ceiling," Villanueva said Sunday evening. "The actual conditions at the time of impact, that is still yet to be determined."

Shawn Coyle, an experienced helicopter pilot and expert witness on accidents, said the decision to fly in fog might have contributed to the crash.

"With an aircraft like that, that’s capable of flying on airways, why they would be flying in bad weather’s got to be in question," Coyle said.

What do we know about the helicopter?

The helicopter in the crash was a Sikorsky S-76B that was manufactured in 1991, according to FAA records. It was owned by Island Express Holding Corp., a helicopter flight charter business.

Lockheed Martin acquired Sikorsky Aircraft in 2015, and all five branches of the U.S. military use its helicopters in some capacity. The company offered condolences to those affected by the crash and pledged to investigate.

There were no immediate indications as of Monday morning that defects or systems failures caused the crash.

It appears that Bryant had used this particular helicopter with some regularity. Its tail number matches that of a helicopter in an April 2016 Getty Images photo, which shows Bryant boarding the chopper to travel to his final NBA game.

Why was Bryant traveling by helicopter?

Bryant traveled frequently by helicopter, both during his NBA career and afterward. As a player, he regularly used a helicopter to avoid two-hour travel times through L.A.’s traffic while also keeping his body fresh.

"Sexy as it might seem, Bryant says the helicopter is just another tool for maintaining his body," J.R. Moehringer wrote for GQ magazine in 2010. "It’s no different than his weights or his whirlpool tubs or his custom-made Nikes. Given his broken finger, his fragile knees, his sore back and achy feet, not to mention his chronic agita, Bryant can’t sit in a car for two hours."

Bryant's helicopter travel continued in retirement, as he focused on creative endeavors and spent time coaching his daughter's basketball team.

More on the shocking loss of Kobe Bryant

Here's more coverage of tributes and more after the tragic passing of Bryant:

Mark Medina reflects on the conversation he had with Bryant earlier this month about his post-playing days, and his future.

The NBA did not seriously consider canceling Sunday's slate of games.

Shock and sadness overcame those at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy on Sunday

Kobe Bryant's death had Grammy attendees reeling

Dallas Mavericks will retire Bryant's No. 24

Fans at Kobe's high school alma mater mourn loss of star

Carmelo Anthony, Doc Rivers, Derek Jeter, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Jerry West were among those offering condolences and tributes

Contributing: John Bacon, Nathan Bomey, Cheri Carlson, Kristin Lam, Mark Medina, Josh Peter, Chris Woodyard and Jeff Zillgitt