NTSB Report Indicates Autopilot Engaged in Crash

Sept. 4, 2019

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said a Tesla Model S was in Autopilot mode and the driver's hands were off the wheel when the car struck a fire truck in California.

Sept. 4, 2019—The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that a Tesla Model S was in Autopilot mode and the driver had hands off the wheel when it struck a fire truck n Culver City, Calif, according to Reuters. The board is investigating a series of crashes involving the automaker's Autopilot system.

The Autopilot system was engaged continuously for the final 13 minutes 48 seconds of the trip. The 2014 Model S struck a fire truck in January 2018.

The driver had his hands off the wheel for all but 51 seconds of the final drive segment. NTSB reported the driver received alerts to place hands back on the wheel.

Tesla’s Autopilot was engaged during at least three fatal U.S. crashes, including fatal March 2018 crashes of a 2018 Model 3 in Delray Beach, Fla., and in Mountain View, Calif., of a Model X.