RIP Kobe Bryant

From the final crash report of my sister's family:

According to FAA Safety Team literature, pilots flying under both instrument and visual flight
rules are subject to spatial disorientation and optical illusions that may cause a loss of aircraft
control. Sight, supported by other senses, allows a pilot to maintain orientation while flying.
However, when visibility is restricted (i.e., no visual reference to the horizon or surface
detected) the body's supporting senses can conflict with what is seen. When this spatial
disorientation occurs, sensory conflicts and optical illusions often make it difficult for a pilot to
tell which way is up. Contributing to these phenomena are the various types of sensory stimuli:
visual, vestibular (organs of equilibrium located in the inner ear), and proprioceptive
(receptors located in the skin, muscles, tendons and joints). Changes in linear acceleration,
angular acceleration, and gravity are detected by the vestibular system and the proprioceptive
receptors, and then compared in the brain with visual information. In a flight environment,
these stimuli can vary in magnitude, direction, and frequency, resulting in a sensory mismatch
that can produce illusions and lead to spatial disorientation.

 

Yes and no. My sister texted my mom about two minutes before the crash, saying they were turning around because of poor weather. No panic in the text.

Our family is in the firm belief, after the investigation and what we have been told, the four of them didn't see it coming and they didn't suffer.

 

Might have been clear in O.C. where they took off. Then got into the marine layer in L.A. and farther north. The fog is goofy is in SoCal.

My brother-in-law took off in mostly clear weather. But knew there was weather moving in and texted my parents on the other side of the mountains of what the weather looked like. Decided to take off despite being super-meticulous (canceled a flight because of fog moving in a month earlier for the eclipse). My dad to this day kicks himself for not telling him to wait until the next morning.

Not saying this pilot was in error. Time will tell.