“Out of the fog came a helicopter and it slammed into the mountainside about 200 feet from where we were standing,” said the man, who asked to remain anonymous.
“We were close enough that we could feel the air from the propellers. There was a huge fireball,” he said.
We now know that the pilot was Ara Zobayan, but still not known if he was instrument rated. Regardless, only one person instructed the pilot to request clearance to fly in “poor weather”: Kobe Bryant.
All for a stupid game (to which they were flying). Horrible tragedy as a result of misguided priorities
https://nypost.com/2020/01/28/pictures-show-kobe-bryants-helicopter-in-ball-of-fire/
Zobayan was instrument and instructor certified with over 8,000 hours.
IFR Instructor