NTSB Investigates Fatal Collision Involving American Airlines and Army Black Hawk: Key Findings on Altitude and Communication Errors
NTSB reports indicate potential miscommunication and misunderstood altitude data contributed to the January 29 midair collision that killed 67.
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Investigators say they hope the helicopter's black box can help reconcile difference.
A timeline of last month's air disaster in Washington, the deadliest in the US since 2001
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The final report on the collision, which claimed 67 lives, could take more than a year to conclude.
Helicopter may have missed order to avoid fatal DC collision: NTSB
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As a result of the collision between the Black Hawk helicopter and the regional jet, 67 people were reported to be dead.
NTSB Claims Black Hawk Did Not Hear Instructions to 'Pass Behind' Plane
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A timeline of last month's air disaster in Washington, the deadliest in the US since 2001
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Both the military helicopter’s pilot and the pilot instructor inside the aircraft reported different altitudes in the minutes before the Jan. 29 collision, suggesting they were having an issue with their barometric altimeters.
NTSB Reveals Helicopter Altitude Discrepancies, Lost Communication Before Crash
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The investigation will provide answers to what altitude the pilots saw in their gages as they were flying, according to Payne.
Black Hawk crew in DC crash may have missed key air traffic messages
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The crash killed 67 people, including the pilots and passengers on both aircraft, marking the deadliest such incident since 2001.
New Information Could Shed Light on What Really Happened in Army Helicopter Crash
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The deadly accident has raised questions about whether helicopters — in particular military training flights — should be allowed to share such a narrow and busy airspace with commercial airplanes.
Equipment malfunction, dropped messages looked at by NTSB in midair crash near D.C.
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It appears the helicopter crew was wearing night-vision goggles which are restrictive in what pilots can see.
Altimeter in Black Hawk helicopter may have malfunctioned before DCA mid-air collision
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Determining the Black Hawk’s precise altitude at the time of the collision is seen as a crucial step in understanding how two aircraft collided under clear skies over some of the country’s most tightly controlled airspace.
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The collision was the deadliest plane crash in the US since 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people onboard and five more on the ground.
Army helicopter may not have heard air traffic instruction before crash in DC
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The collision was the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five more on the ground.
Helicopter crew in collision with plane may not have heard key instruction from tower, NTSB says
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Although the investigation is far from concluded, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy briefed the media Friday and suggested that two factors may have been key elements of the crash sequence.
Investigation into midair collision near DCA homes in on altimeter errors, radio issue
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The collision likely occurred at an altitude of about 325 feet, investigators have said, which would put the Black Hawk above its 200-foot limit for that location.
Helicopter crew in collision with plane may not have heard key instruction from tower, NTSB says
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The collision was the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five more on the ground.
WATCH: Helicopter crew in DC collision may not have heard key instruction from tower, NTSB says
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The incident has prompted heavy criticism of U.S. Air Traffic Control, but a federal investigation into the collision is still ongoing.
NTSB says it's possible helicopter crew didn't hear air traffic instructions ahead of DC collision
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Summary
The NTSB's investigation into the January 29 collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk near Washington D.C. highlights serious communication failures. They revealed the helicopter crew may not have received crucial air traffic control instructions to pass behind the jet. Investigators also found discrepancies in altitude readings, with the Black Hawk recorded at 278 feet during impact, above its 200-foot limit. All 67 victims, including crew members and passengers from both aircraft, were killed. The NTSB continues to analyze data and will conduct a visibility study given the crew's likely use of night vision goggles.
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