(CNN) As millions of fans mourn the death of Kobe Bryant and eight other people killed in a helicopter crash Sunday and investigators look into the tragedy , people close to the NBA legend tried Wednesday to go on with their lives while honoring his memory.

The Los Angeles Lakers met at their practice facility for the first time since the crash.

While Bryant has been retired from professional basketball for four years, Lakers players still idolize the five-time NBA champion and his legacy permeates their home arena.

The Lakers were on a plane back from Philadelphia when the news of Bryant's death got out.

Lakers Coach Frank Vogel said he informed his players of Bryant's death -- some had heard, some had not -- then went home and hugged his family.

Wednesday they gathered again as a team.

"We did some things that we thought would be therapeutically beneficial," Vogel said. He said the team did some shooting drills but it wasn't a "real practice." He said he wanted his guys to break a sweat and to be around each other.

He said they all spent time together at a team lunch.

"And (we) grieved together," he added.

He said the Lakers have always wanted to make Bryant proud.

"We want to represent what he stood for," he said.

Also Wednesday, Bryant's widow, Vanessa, sent a message to Kobe's fans and changed her Instagram profile photo to one of Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter, who also died in the crash.

It was her first public statement on the deaths of Gianna and her father. She wrote that she and her three other daughters are "completely devastated."

"My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who've shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them," she wrote.

Feds investigate cause of crash

The aircraft carrying the nine victims crashed into a hillside and missed the top of the hill by 20 to 30 feet, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

Preliminary information suggests the helicopter descended rapidly before it crashed in Calabasas, California, NTSB member Jennifer Homendy said.

"The descent rate for the helicopter was over 2,000 feet a minute," Homendy said. "This is a pretty steep descent at high speed."

Investigators are trying to determine what caused the crash and whether the pilot should have been granted special permission to fly in the foggy conditions Sunday morning.

FAA records reviewed by CNN reveal Island Express Holding Corp., the company operating the helicopter, was certified only for visual flight rules flights.

Visual flight rules require pilots to stay clear of clouds and in good visibility while using both visual and instrument navigation.

Investigators are also looking into whether a safety system -- recommended by federal authorities years ago -- could have prevented the tragedy.

The helicopter lacked a recommended safety feature

The Sikorsky S-76B helicopter, built in 1991, did not have a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), Homendy said.

TAWS is a safety feature that alerts pilots when they might hit terrain.

After a 2004 helicopter crash in Texas that killed 10 people, the NTSB recommended all new and existing helicopters with six or more passenger seats be equipped with TAWS, Homendy said.

But the NTSB doesn't have the authority to set new rules based on recommendations. That's up to the Federal Aviation Administration, which didn't implement the recommendation, Homendy said.

An FAA spokesman did not provide a direct response Wednesday to CNN's request for explanation on why the agency did not make TAWS mandatory for all helicopters.

The FAA has estimated that TAWS would cost "$35,000 per helicopter for equipment and installation, plus $7,000 for revenue loss for equipment downtime," according to a government document from 2014

The FAA must consider cost-benefit analyses before making new rules, said Peter Goelz, a former managing director of the NTSB.

But Goelz said he and other aviation experts believe "when it comes to safety, the cost-benefit analysis should never be the final call."

He said some helicopter pilots may consider TAWS to be a nuisance, especially in good conditions when the terrain is visible but the alerts keep going off.

"If you have a device in a helicopter, which is often flying at low altitudes, often (TAWS) will go off and you will get alerts and that will cause the pilot to ignore it," Goelz said.

But he said that concern is "overstated."

"You can calibrate these things very carefully," he said. "The workload argument doesn't hold up when you weigh it against the safety benefits."

Island Express declined to comment on why the aircraft did not have TAWS.

"Because this is an ongoing investigation, Island Express defers comment on this matter to the NTSB," according to a company statement.

The helicopter also lacked a flight data recorder

TAWS isn't the only recommended feature that wasn't on the helicopter. The aircraft also lacked a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder, Homendy said.

Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, center, and Quinn Cook react to a video tribute for Kobe Bryant, before their game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 31. Hide Caption 1 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant The jerseys of Kobe Bryant, right, and his daughter Gianna are draped on the seats the two last sat on at Staples Center, prior to the Lakers' game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Los Angeles, Friday, January 31. The last game the two attended was on December 29, 2019, when the Lakers faced the Dallas Mavericks. Hide Caption 2 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A message honoring Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna is seen on the marquee of the Hollywood Paladium on Sunset Boulevard. Hide Caption 3 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A makeshift memorial outside Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 31. Hide Caption 4 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna adorns a basketball court on Monday, January 28, in Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. Hide Caption 5 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant The Empire State Building is illuminated gold and purple to honor Kobe Bryant on January 28. Hide Caption 6 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Serbia's Novak Djokovic gets emotional as he talks about Kobe Bryant after winning a men's singles quarter-final match against Canada's Milos Raonic on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28. Hide Caption 7 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Notes are seen on a wall with painted portraits of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna outside the "House of Kobe" basketball court on January 28 in Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Philippines. Hide Caption 8 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Store manager Satoshi Kanazawa, right, and Kazuhiro Taguchi hang a poster showing an image of former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant at Selection in Tokyo on Monday, January 27. Hide Caption 9 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant The Detroit Pistons honor Kobe Bryant by wearing numbers 8 and 24 on their jerseys prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 27 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Hide Caption 10 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Coco Gauff pays tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, with their names hand-written on her tennis tennis shoes during her Australian Open doubles tennis match on January 27. Hide Caption 11 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Fans place flowers at a makeshift memorial outside of the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27. Hide Caption 12 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Nicole Mascarenhas wipes her eyes in front of the Staples Center on January 27. Hide Caption 13 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Children play with paper balls and a trash can in front of a makeshift memorial on January 27. A group of fans gathered at the LA Live Plaza and took turns shooting paper balls into the trash can while yelling "Kobe," a gesture practiced in classrooms and offices across America. Hide Caption 14 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A sign at the 42nd St-Bryant Park subway station in New York City is covered with tape to read "Kobe Byrant Park" on January 27. Hide Caption 15 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Gregg Donovan holds flowers at a memorial for Kobe Bryant near the Staples Center on January 27. Hide Caption 16 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A spectator at the Australian open wears a Kobe Bryant jersey on January 27. Hide Caption 17 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Flowers, jerseys and other memorabilia is left at the entrance of the Bryant Gymnasium at Lower Merion High School in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, on January 27. Hide Caption 18 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant People mourn for former NBA star Kobe Bryant near the Staples Center on January 26. Hide Caption 19 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant People gather near a small memorial outside of a basketball court in Calabasas, California, on January 26. Hide Caption 20 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant The Pacific Park Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier is lit up purple and gold with Kobe Bryant's number 24 in Los Angeles on January 26. Hide Caption 21 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant From left, Houston Rockets players Tyson Chandler, Austin Rivers and P.J. Tucker react during a tribute to Kobe Bryant before their game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, January 26. Hide Caption 22 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Host Alicia Keys speaks about Bryant during the 2020 Grammy Awards on Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Bryant spent his 20-year NBA career with the Lakers, who play in the Staples Center. Hide Caption 23 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant From left, Alex Fultz, Eddy Rivas and Rene Alfaro react to Bryant's death on Sunday outside of the Staples Center. Hide Caption 24 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant AFC defensive end Calais Campbell kneels as he and his teammates react to the announcement of Bryant's death Sunday in the second quarter of the 2020 Pro Bowl on Sunday in Orlando. Hide Caption 25 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Dharma Brown, 8, writes a note to the late Bryant outside of the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday. Hide Caption 26 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant LA Clippers assistant coaches Sam Cassell and Tyronn Lue react on the bench after honoring Kobe Bryant during a game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center in Orlando on Sunday. Hide Caption 27 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant The ceiling of Madison Square Garden is lit in the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers as Bryant's picture is displayed during a moment of silence Sunday. Hide Caption 28 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant People gather at a memorial for Kobe Bryant near the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday. Hide Caption 29 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A fan shows off a Bryant jersey during a game between the Orlando Magic and the LA Clippers on Sunday. Hide Caption 30 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Players and fans in Memphis observe a moment of silence for Bryant before the Phoenix Suns game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Hide Caption 31 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Inside the Staples Center, a man takes a photo of a mural featuring Bryant on Sunday. Hide Caption 32 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Fans mourn in front of Bryant's image across from Staples Center on Sunday. Hide Caption 33 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A memorial for Bryant is seen Sunday near the Staples Center. Hide Caption 34 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A moment of silence is taken before the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Hide Caption 35 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Fans are seen at a memorial started next to a mural of Bryant on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles on Sunday. Hide Caption 36 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Fans stand for a moment of silence before the game between the Orlando Magic and the LA Clippers in Orlando on Sunday. Hide Caption 37 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant Elana Hirschman hugs her 11-year-old son Bryan as her husband Craig stands by Sunday near the scene of the deadly helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Hide Caption 38 of 39 Photos: The world mourns NBA legend Kobe Bryant A fan pays respects at a mural depicting Bryant in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. Hide Caption 39 of 39

"Having a CVR and an FDR would have helped us significantly in this investigation," the NTSB member said.

When contacted by CNN, Island Express declined to say why the helicopter didn't have the recorders, citing the ongoing investigation.

Goelz said one reason used in the past for why some helicopters lack flight data recorders was that the devices were "too big and too heavy."

But "they have now miniaturized them -- they are 5 pounds at the most," Goelz said.

"The idea that these kinds of devices aren't mandatory is really unacceptable."

What was found at the scene

While investigators won't find a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder, they did find debris stretching over 500 feet, the NTSB said.

NTSB investigator Carol Hogan examines wreckage at the crash site.

The agency recovered an iPad, a cell phone and documents such as the helicopter's maintenance records, registration and airworthiness certificate.

Homendy said the NTSB will release its preliminary report on the crash in about 10 days -- but it won't answer everyone's questions.

"It's not going to contain our findings, our analysis," she said. "It's not going to contain any safety recommendations or probable cause. But it's going to provide some factual information -- more than we have now."

She said a final report will be out in about 12 to 18 months.