Overview
- NTSB tests showed Black Hawk barometric altimeters reading 80–130 feet lower than true altitude, likely misguiding pilots over the Potomac River
- Cockpit voice recordings reveal the airliner's crew received an automated traffic warning about 20 seconds before impact and tried to climb, while the helicopter pilots missed a “pass behind” instruction when a crew member keyed the microphone
- FAA Air Traffic Oversight Service director Nick Fuller confirmed no safety alerts were issued to the American Airlines regional jet about the helicopter’s crossing path
- Investigators noted that pre-crash proposals to reroute helicopters, cut flights at Reagan National and install collision-warning systems were never implemented
- FAA officials announced plans for additional helicopter route restrictions near Reagan National, building on permanent limits imposed in March and expanded in June