FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
A very sad day in the sports word hearing this news. At this time it looks like Kobe Bryant, his daughter and 7 other people were killed as the Sikorsky S 76 they were flying in slammed into some hilly terrain to the north west of LA. The NTSB is on their way and so far (from what I've seen) there hasn't been too much speculation about this incident. I was surfing the internet and came across some interesting information.
This site not only had information about the aircraft but a flight tacker of today's flight. Since I used to live (and fly) in Southern California, this caught my attention.
Kobe Bryant among nine killed in helicopter crash near Los Angeles | International Flight Network
N72EX - Sikorsky S-76B [760379] - Flightradar24
It looks like he took off from John Wayne airport, flew a low level helicopter route to Glendale CA, where the helicopter seemed to circle over the city. He continued north and then over Granada Hills started tuning to the south west, it looks like they were 1200' MSL. Over Woodland Hills they being to follow the 101 freeway remaining at 1200' MSL until they got over Las Virgenes Rd, made a turn to the south east and flew into higher terrain to the east of Las Virgenes Rd. Prior to the turn they were cruising at about 130 knts GS. After they made that turn they abruptly slowed down to 110 knts and then began to climb and gain ground speed The tracking ends at 1700 MSL. 153 knts, 17:45z. Looking at some online sectional and terminal chart products, it looks like terrain in the area was over 2000'.
I didn't pull up weather reports but eye witnesses who saw the helicopter before the cash said it was "cloudy and foggy" which I know is typical in that area, especially during this time of the year during AM hours.
The site also shows the helicopter being operated several days prior to this crash.
Amazing the online resources available but I'll still let the NTSB do their job, but I do know these resources are pretty reliable.
RIP Kobe, Gianna and all who perished!
This site not only had information about the aircraft but a flight tacker of today's flight. Since I used to live (and fly) in Southern California, this caught my attention.
Kobe Bryant among nine killed in helicopter crash near Los Angeles | International Flight Network
N72EX - Sikorsky S-76B [760379] - Flightradar24
It looks like he took off from John Wayne airport, flew a low level helicopter route to Glendale CA, where the helicopter seemed to circle over the city. He continued north and then over Granada Hills started tuning to the south west, it looks like they were 1200' MSL. Over Woodland Hills they being to follow the 101 freeway remaining at 1200' MSL until they got over Las Virgenes Rd, made a turn to the south east and flew into higher terrain to the east of Las Virgenes Rd. Prior to the turn they were cruising at about 130 knts GS. After they made that turn they abruptly slowed down to 110 knts and then began to climb and gain ground speed The tracking ends at 1700 MSL. 153 knts, 17:45z. Looking at some online sectional and terminal chart products, it looks like terrain in the area was over 2000'.
I didn't pull up weather reports but eye witnesses who saw the helicopter before the cash said it was "cloudy and foggy" which I know is typical in that area, especially during this time of the year during AM hours.
The site also shows the helicopter being operated several days prior to this crash.
Amazing the online resources available but I'll still let the NTSB do their job, but I do know these resources are pretty reliable.
RIP Kobe, Gianna and all who perished!