NTSB Findings on Fatal Texas Tesla Crash Point to Driver Error
The driver had engaged Full Self-Driving Supervised mode before manually overriding the system by pressing the accelerator to 100%.
Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board confirm that a Tesla driver, not the vehicle's software, caused a fatal crash in Katy, Texas in June.
What Happened
The NTSB reported that 44-year-old Michael Butler had engaged Full Self-Driving Supervised mode on Rose Hollow Lane, a residential street with a 30 mph speed limit, before manually overriding the system by pressing the accelerator pedal to 100%. Data from the 2025 Tesla Model 3 showed the vehicle was traveling over 70 miles per hour when it struck a home and killed 76-year-old Martha Avila, who was inside. Weather was clear, the road was dry, and it was daylight. Butler told authorities he had passed out at the wheel, but security camera footage obtained by the NTSB showed the car accelerating through an intersection before leaving the road entirely. Police also found Google searches on Butler's phone including 'Tesla FSD not aggressive enough 2026' and 'Tesla FSD too timid.' Butler has been charged with manslaughter, and Avila's family has filed a lawsuit against both Butler and Tesla alleging negligence.
Why It Matters
The findings contradict Butler's initial account of the crash. The combination of accelerator override data, security footage, and phone search history raises questions about how drivers interact with advanced driver-assistance systems. For owners and prospective buyers of vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Supervised, the case underscores that these systems require active human oversight and can be manually overridden.
The Bottom Line
The NTSB findings aligned with statements Tesla VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy made on X weeks after the crash, confirming that the driver manually overrode self-driving by pressing the accelerator to 100% in a residential area.
