NTSB: Black Hawk Altitude Inaccurate, Pilots May Not Have Heard

Crews pull up a part of a plane from the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

An initial examination of the flight data and voice recorder from a Black Hawk helicopter involved in a tragic collision with a commuter plane in Washington, DC, on January 29 has provided some insights into the events leading up to the incident. According to officials, the data suggests that the helicopter's altimeter may have been inaccurate, and there were possible communication issues with the control tower at Reagan National Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shared that the helicopter's flight data and voice recorders indicated that the pilot and her instructor had conflicting altitude readings just before the crash. The radio altimeter on the Black Hawk showed an altitude of 278 feet, but there are discrepancies in the data that need further verification.

Investigators are also looking into why the pilot and instructor reported different altitudes and are examining the systems to understand the discrepancies. Additionally, it was noted that there may have been instances where the helicopter crew did not hear instructions from the control tower, including a directive to pass behind the commuter jet before the collision.

Pilot and instructor had conflicting altitude readings before the crash.

Black Hawk's altimeter may have been inaccurate.

Possible communication issues with the control tower at Reagan National Airport.

The NTSB is currently analyzing the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from both aircraft to piece together the sequence of events leading to the collision. The voice recorder from the Black Hawk was recovered without external damage, while the regional jet's cockpit voice recorder had water intrusion but is being processed to extract moisture.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the helicopter crew was likely wearing night vision goggles during a check ride, which was a combined annual and night vision goggle examination. The NTSB has completed its work at the crash site and is now focusing on analyzing the physical evidence to prepare a preliminary report expected to be released by the end of the month.

The investigation into the tragic collision near Reagan National Airport, which claimed 67 lives, continues as authorities work to understand the circumstances that led to the accident.