Overview

• Captain Rebecca Lobach failed to follow her co-pilot's directive to turn left 15 seconds before colliding with an American Airlines jet near Reagan National Airport.
• The Black Hawk helicopter was flying at 278 feet, exceeding its 200-foot ceiling, and entered the jet's landing path, reducing vertical separation to a dangerous margin.
• Communication issues, including microphone interruptions, likely caused the Black Hawk crew to miss crucial air traffic control instructions such as 'pass behind.'
• The helicopter's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, which enhances tracking and collision avoidance, was disabled during the flight.
• Air traffic control approved 'visual separation,' a risky maneuver in congested airspace, and directed the jet to land on a seldom-used runway, compounding the risk.