A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that the driver of a Tesla Model 3 manually overrode the vehicle’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system moments before a high-speed crash that killed a 76-year-old woman in Katy, Texas.

The findings suggest the fatal collision was caused by the driver’s actions rather than the automated driving system itself, though investigations by federal safety agencies remain ongoing.

According to the NTSB’s preliminary report released on Wednesday, the 44-year-old driver had activated Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature before the June crash.

Electronic data recovered from the 2025 Tesla Model 3 revealed that the driver fully depressed the accelerator pedal, overriding the FSD system. The vehicle accelerated to more than 70 mph (113 km/h) before crashing into a residential home.

The collision occurred on a two-lane residential road with a posted speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h).

Investigators said the electronic data clearly showed the driver’s manual input took priority over the vehicle’s automated driving assistance.

Fatal Crash Claimed the Life of 76-Year-Old Homeowner

The vehicle crashed directly into the home of Martha Avila, a 76-year-old resident who suffered severe injuries during the impact.

She was transported to a nearby hospital but later died from her injuries.

Following the crash, Avila’s daughter, Jennifer Barbour, and her husband, Justin Barbour, said the Tesla driver, identified as Michael Butler, told law enforcement officers that he had activated Tesla’s Autopilot system before the vehicle slammed through the front wall of the house.

Federal investigators have not released any findings suggesting the automated system malfunctioned during the incident.

Tesla Executive Previously Explained the Driver’s Actions

The NTSB’s findings match comments previously made by Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s Vice President of AI Software.

Last month, Elluswamy wrote on X that the driver had manually overridden the self-driving system by pressing the accelerator pedal to 100%, causing the vehicle to accelerate beyond the speed controlled by FSD.

The latest investigation confirms that statement using data retrieved directly from the crashed vehicle.

Federal Investigations Into Tesla Driver Assistance Continue

Although the preliminary report points to driver intervention as the immediate cause of the crash, both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continue to investigate the incident.

Tesla’s advanced driver assistance technologies have remained under intense scrutiny in recent years following numerous crashes involving Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features.

Since 2016, the NHTSA has launched nearly 50 special investigations involving Tesla vehicles suspected of using advanced driver assistance systems during crashes. Approximately two dozen fatalities have been linked to those investigations.

NHTSA Expanded Investigation Into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving System

Earlier this year, the NHTSA expanded its investigation into approximately 3.2 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving technology.

The agency is examining whether the system may fail to adequately detect or warn drivers when visibility is poor, potentially increasing the risk of collisions.

The investigation remains active, and regulators have not reached a final conclusion.

Tesla Continues to Stress Driver Responsibility

Tesla has consistently maintained that both

Tesla Driver Overrode Full Self-Driving Before Fatal Texas Crash, NTSB Says

A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that the driver of a Tesla Model 3 manually overrode the vehicle’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system moments before a high-speed crash that killed a 76-year-old woman in Katy, Texas.

The findings suggest the fatal collision was caused by the driver’s actions rather than the automated driving system itself, though investigations by federal safety agencies remain ongoing.

NTSB Says Driver Pressed Accelerator to Override FSD

According to the NTSB’s preliminary report released on Wednesday, the 44-year-old driver had activated Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature before the June crash.

Electronic data recovered from the 2025 Tesla Model 3 revealed that the driver fully depressed the accelerator pedal, overriding the FSD system. The vehicle accelerated to more than 70 mph (113 km/h) before crashing into a residential home.

The collision occurred on a two-lane residential road with a posted speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h).

Investigators said the electronic data clearly showed the driver’s manual input took priority over the vehicle’s automated driving assistance.

Fatal Crash Claimed the Life of 76-Year-Old Homeowner

The vehicle crashed directly into the home of Martha Avila, a 76-year-old resident who suffered severe injuries during the impact.

She was transported to a nearby hospital but later died from her injuries.

Following the crash, Avila’s daughter, Jennifer Barbour, and her husband, Justin Barbour, said the Tesla driver, identified as Michael Butler, told law enforcement officers that he had activated Tesla’s Autopilot system before the vehicle slammed through the front wall of the house.

Federal investigators have not released any findings suggesting the automated system malfunctioned during the incident.

Tesla Executive Previously Explained the Driver’s Actions

The NTSB’s findings match comments previously made by Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s Vice President of AI Software.

Last month, Elluswamy wrote on X that the driver had manually overridden the self-driving system by pressing the accelerator pedal to 100%, causing the vehicle to accelerate beyond the speed controlled by FSD.

The latest investigation confirms that statement using data retrieved directly from the crashed vehicle.

Federal Investigations Into Tesla Driver Assistance Continue

Although the preliminary report points to driver intervention as the immediate cause of the crash, both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continue to investigate the incident.

Tesla’s advanced driver assistance technologies have remained under intense scrutiny in recent years following numerous crashes involving Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features.

Since 2016, the NHTSA has launched nearly 50 special investigations involving Tesla vehicles suspected of using advanced driver assistance systems during crashes. Approximately two dozen fatalities have been linked to those investigations.

NHTSA Expanded Investigation Into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving System

Earlier this year, the NHTSA expanded its investigation into approximately 3.2 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving technology.

The agency is examining whether the system may fail to adequately detect or warn drivers when visibility is poor, potentially increasing the risk of collisions.

The investigation remains active, and regulators have not reached a final conclusion.

Tesla Continues to Stress Driver Responsibility

Tesla has consistently maintained that both Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised) are driver assistance systems rather than fully autonomous technologies.

According to the company:

• Autopilot assists with steering, braking, and acceleration while keeping the vehicle within its lane.
• Full Self-Driving (Supervised) adds capabilities such as responding to traffic signals, changing lanes, and navigating more complex roads.

However, Tesla states that both systems require drivers to remain fully attentive, keep their hands on the steering wheel when required, and be ready to take control at any time.