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8h ago

NTSB Uncovers Altimeter Errors and ATC Failures in Washington Midair Collision

NTSB findings of altimeter errors of up to 130 feet alongside missing air traffic control alerts have prompted Army equipment reviews under intensified FAA oversight before the final report is released next year.

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Friends and family of the 67 victims killed in a mid-air collision of a passenger jet and a US Army helicopter wear photographs around their neck during the National Transportation Safety Board investigation hearings
Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Jennifer Homendy speaks to members of the Federal Aviation Administration during hearings for the investigation into the January mid-air collision that killed 67 in Washington

Overview

  • Investigators tested three Black Hawk helicopters and confirmed barometric altimeters were underreporting altitude by 80 to 130 feet above the Potomac River flight corridor.
  • Cockpit voice recordings show the Black Hawk crew missed a ‘pass behind’ instruction 15 seconds before impact because the command was inaudible in the cockpit.
  • FAA Air Traffic Oversight Service acknowledged that no traffic advisories or safety alerts were issued to the American Airlines CRJ700 prior to the collision.
  • The U.S. Army has launched equipment reviews while Congress increases scrutiny of FAA exemptions and route management in congested Reagan National airspace.
  • The NTSB will publish its final probable cause report within a year, setting the stage for permanent route changes and broader aviation safety reforms.