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Tesla driver in fatal Texas crash pressed accelerator 100%, NTSB confirms
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday that the driver of a Tesla who crashed into a house in June had pressed the accelerator pedal to 100%, overriding the company’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software, reinforcing the core news point that the driver, not the system, caused the fatal incident. Primary keywords include Tesla, Full Self-Driving, NTSB, crash, and accelerator pedal, matching search intent for readers tracking autonomous driving technology, automotive safety, and regulatory investigations. Data recovered from the Tesla showed the vehicle was traveling more than 70 miles per hour when it struck a house in Katy, Texas, killing 76-year-old resident Martha Avila. The family of the victim has since sued the alleged driver, 44-year-old Michael Butler, and Tesla, claiming negligence. Butler has also been charged with manslaughter. The NTSB shared the information as part of a preliminary report on its investigation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also probing the incident. The data confirms Tesla’s account of the crash, which the company shared days after the incident to show that its advanced driver assistance system was not at fault. Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on X shortly after the crash, “This allegation makes no sense. FSD drives slowly through neighborhood streets and this was a high speed crash!” The NTSB said Butler was using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) on Rose Hollow Lane, a residential road with a 30 mph speed limit, prior to the crash. Security camera footage showed the car accelerating through an intersection, leaving the road, and hitting the house. Weather was clear, roadway dry, and daylight conditions present. Tesla requires drivers using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to pay attention and be ready to take control. Butler allegedly told authorities he had “passed out” and was using the driver assistance system. Police reportedly discovered his Google searches included “Tesla FSD not aggressive enough 2026” and “Tesla FSD too timid,” according to local ABC affiliate KTRK TV.