Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna’s death certificates reveal they both died ‘rapidly’ in helicopter crash – The US Sun
Olivia House
Published Sep 02, 2026
THE death certificates of Kobe and Gianna Bryant reveal the NBA legend and his daughter both died "rapidly" in last month's helicopter crash.
The chopper carrying Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others went down on January 26 in the California city of Calabasas.
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There were no survivors.
The death certificates reveal that both father and daughter were killed instantly in the crash.
Kobe, who was 41, was described as an "author, producer and athlete" in the death certificate.
He did win an Academy Award two years ago for his animated short film Dear Basketball.
Gianna was described as a "coach and student".
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The death certificates also officially list their cause of death as blunt force trauma.
The crash took place as the group was flying to a girls basketball tournament at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy.
Bryant was involved in coaching Gianna's squad, and two of her teammates were also killed.
Wreckage of the helicopter examined by experts showed no sign of engine failure, it was revealed Friday.
Pilot Ara Zobayan came close to finding his way out of the clouds before slamming into a hillside, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
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The pilot slammed into the hillside at more than 180 miles per hour, according to officials.
"If you exit the bottom of the clouds at 4,000 feet per minute at that high speed, you've certainly lost control of the aircraft," air safety consultant Kipp Lau said.
The documents also reveal that a private funeral service for Bryant and his daughter was held at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles on Feb. 7.
Kobe's widow Vanessa and his other loved ones "wanted a private service to mourn their loss," a source told ET.
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"The ceremony was extremely hard for everyone as it's hard for them to grasp they lost two beautiful souls.
Kobe Bryant is survived by wife Vanessa and three daughters.
The cemetery where Bryant was laid to rest is the same one where movie legend Kirk Douglas is buried.
Douglas died at age 103 earlier this month.
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The cemetery in Los Angeles is also the final resting place of actresses Marilyn Monroe and Natalie Wood, actors Jack Lemmon and Don Knotts, as well as musicians Dean Martin and Roy Orbison.
A public memorial for Bryant and the eight other victims is scheduled for Feb. 24 at the Staples Center, where the Lakers play.
Vanessa confirmed the memorial the day of the burial with an Instagram photo of an invitation that reads: "A celebration of life, Kobe & Gianna Bryant," accompanied by the date of the memorial - February 24.
The date corresponds with Bryant's No. 24 jersey and the No. 2 worn by Gianna.
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Also killed were basketball coach John Altobelli, 56, his wife Keri, 46, and their daughter Alyssa, 13, who played on the same team as Gianna.
The Altobellis' surviving daughter Lexi, 16, travelled to LA to identify her parents and sister.
Christina Mauser, a girls' basketball coach at a private school in Orange County, also died along with Sarah Chester and her teen daughter Payton.
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