The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed Wednesday that the driver of a Tesla involved in a fatal crash in June had pressed the accelerator pedal to 100%, effectively overriding the company's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. The vehicle was traveling over 70 mph when it struck a house in Katy, Texas, killing 76-year-old resident Martha Avila. The victim's family has since sued the alleged driver, 44-year-old Michael Butler, and Tesla, claiming negligence. Butler has also been charged with manslaughter.

The data recovered from the Tesla supports the company's initial account, which CEO Elon Musk used to deflect blame shortly after the crash. “This [allegation] makes no sense. FSD drives slowly through neighborhood streets and this was a high speed crash!” Musk wrote on X. The NTSB's preliminary report notes that the driver was using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) on a residential road with a 30 mph speed limit before the crash. Security footage showed the car accelerating through an intersection, leaving the road, and hitting the house under clear, dry, daylight conditions.

Tesla requires drivers using its system to remain attentive and ready to take control. Butler allegedly told authorities he “passed out” while using the driver assistance system. Police reportedly found his Google searches included phrases like “Tesla FSD not aggressive enough 2026” and “Tesla FSD too timid.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also investigating the incident.