Investigators say the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant missed clearing a hilltop by 20 to 30 feet

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Investigators say the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant missed clearing a hilltop by 20 to 30 feet
kobe helicopter crash
  • The helicopter that crashed on Sunday killing Kobe Bryant and eight others did not have a terrain warning system that could have alerted the pilot of the hills below him, according to investigators.
  • An NTSB official said in a briefing Tuesday that the descent rate of the aircraft was 2,000 feet per minute, which she referred to as a "high energy impact crash."
  • The official added that the helicopter missed clearning a hill by 20 to 30 feet.
  • The officials added that the helicopter didn't have a terrain awareness warning system, which provides terrain information to the pilot.
  • Investigators found the remains of all nine victims on Tuesday and were working to positively identify them.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed while transporting NBA icon Kobe Bryant and eight others did not have a warning system that could have alerted the pilot of the hills below him, according to investigators.

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No one survived the Sunday crash in Calabasas, California, roughly 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Investigators has found the remains of all nine victims by Tuesday and were working to positively identify them.

On Tuesday, the NTSB held a briefing and gave updated information about its investigation.

NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said the descent rate of the aircraft was 2,000 feet per minute, which she referred to as a "high energy impact crash."

Homendy said that the helicopter didn't have a terrain awareness warning system, which provides terrain information to the pilot. Videos from the day of the crash indicate that foggy conditions may have contributed to poor visibility.

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Homendy added that the helicopter was 20 to 30 feet from clearing a hill before the crash.

This is a developing story.

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