American Airlines CRJ-700 collides with helicopter near Reagan National (1 Viewer)

[superchuck500]

 

[efil4stnias]

Just waking up to this. What a tragic disaster.
Have to anticipate the Blackhawk pilot had no idea was in approach vector for DCA.

The one thing I am struggling with is the post of flight path. (@DavidM ) as it appears the chopper turns directly into path of plane. Directionally, he was headed toward plane, meaning the landing lights would/should have been visible. Unless they meshed with lights from surroundings

Idk just a tragic result.

100 ft altitude difference and this is a near miss, not a collision. Damn

 

[bclemms]

Just waking up to this. What a tragic disaster.
Have to anticipate the Blackhawk pilot had no idea was in approach vector for DCA.

The one thing I am struggling with is the post of flight path. (@DavidM ) as it appears the chopper turns directly into path of plane. Directionally, he was headed toward plane, meaning the landing lights would/should have been visible. Unless they meshed with lights from surroundings

Idk just a tragic result.

DCA final approach has unusually late and steep turns due to airspace restrIctions. I bet it ends up being a factor. The chopper pilot requested visual separation and saw the CRJ. From that point he must have been disoriented.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

Just waking up to this. What a tragic disaster.
Have to anticipate the Blackhawk pilot had no idea was in approach vector for DCA.

The one thing I am struggling with is the post of flight path. (@DavidM ) as it appears the chopper turns directly into path of plane. Directionally, he was headed toward plane, meaning the landing lights would/should have been visible. Unless they meshed with lights from surroundings

Idk just a tragic result.

100 ft altitude difference and this is a near miss, not a collision. Damn

ATC asked the helo pilot if he saw the plane and he responded affirmatively and was directed to come in behind the plane. No idea how this happened.

 

[DavidM]

Just waking up to this. What a tragic disaster.
Have to anticipate the Blackhawk pilot had no idea was in approach vector for DCA.

The one thing I am struggling with is the post of flight path. (@DavidM ) as it appears the chopper turns directly into path of plane. Directionally, he was headed toward plane, meaning the landing lights would/should have been visible. Unless they meshed with lights from surroundings

Idk just a tragic result.

100 ft altitude difference and this is a near miss, not a collision. Damn

At the time, it was my best attempt at making some sense of the recording. It could appear that the helicopter was approaching more directly from behind at a high speed, overtaking the plane, but it made more sense that they were crossing paths and speed and direction were deceptive. The plane would have been descending, so conceivably at an angle and an approach that either the helicopter pilot didn’t have a clear sightline of or missed it amid the lights and distractions of an urban setting. All guesswork, of course, trying to make sense of what is on the video.

 

[efil4stnias]

ATC asked the helo pilot if he saw the plane and he responded affirmatively and was directed to come in behind the plane. No idea how this happened.

then i have to believe there was a perception issue with respect to paths.

I remember hearing this was a training flight too.

 

[superchuck500]

At the time, it was my best attempt at making some sense of the recording. It could appear that the helicopter was approaching more directly from behind at a high speed, overtaking the plane, but it made more sense that they were crossing paths and speed and direction were deceptive. The plane would have been descending, so conceivably at an angle and an approach that either the helicopter pilot didn’t have a clear sightline of or missed it amid the lights and distractions of an urban setting. All guesswork, of course, trying to make sense of what is on the video.

There are almost 400 flights a day in and out of DCA - it’s just crazy that these encounters would be left to the humans involved to work them out on an individual basis. I suspect the “fix” would have to be that the DCA final approach corridors are simply off-limits to helos except in emergencies or very specific and limited circumstances.

 

[superchuck500]

then i have to believe there was a perception issue with respect to paths.

I remember hearing this was a training flight too.

I saw a pilot last night mention that disorientation is easy in that area with so much going on in such a confined space. All of the lights and the river, etc

Why are they training adjacent to DCA?

 

[efil4stnias]

DCA final approach has unusually late and steep turns due to airspace restrIctions. I bet it ends up being a factor. The chopper pilot requested visual separation and saw the CRJ. From that point he must have been disoriented.

this is what im thinking- perception issue.

Always flown into IAD vs DCA ( when travelling - not a pilot lol ) so im not even familiar with the approach.

But from looking at the playback on FlightRadar24, there are a LOT of choppers and light aircraft in/around DCA at given times. Several chopper routes have them hugging the right bank of Potomac. This one seeming veered off that right bank toward middle of river.

Im guessing there will be even more restrictions now after this.

 

[superchuck500]

this is what im thinking- perception issue.

Always flown into IAD vs DCA ( when travelling - not a pilot lol ) so im not even familiar with the approach.

But from looking at the playback on FlightRadar24, there are a LOT of choppers and light aircraft in/around DCA at given times. Several chopper routes have them hugging the right bank of Potomac. This one seeming veered off that right bank toward middle of river.

Im guessing there will be even more restrictions now after this.

The approach from the south is basically right up the river from Mt Vernon - and then for 33 they swing out over Bolling on the right side of the river to make the vector to the strip.

But it has been that way for a long time and the CRJ appears to have done exactly that. It’s just inexplicable that the helo would mess that up.

 

[DCSaints_Fan]

I saw a pilot last night mention that disorientation is easy in that area with so much going on in such a confined space. All of the lights and the river, etc

Why are they training adjacent to DCA?

Protecting the airspace / groundspace of the capital seems like a reasonable training mission. Flying over the Potomac means any crash doesn't hit residential areas, unless they are unlucky enough to hit a bridge.

 

[efil4stnias]

Flying over the Potomac means any crash doesn't hit residential areas, unless they are unlucky enough to hit a bridge.

or a commercial airliner.

I get the need for air space protection. Totally. But i cant imagine this is the first time runway 33 was used for arriving aircraft. Dont know how common it is, but to have small/light aircraft ( Civil air patrol flights ) and helicopters operating in the same space as commercial air craft on approach ( and a commercial air craft on approach is throttled down and in landing configuration, so they cant maneuver in an instant without bad consequences ) will have to be addressed.

 

[superchuck500]

Protecting the airspace / groundspace of the capital seems like a reasonable training mission. Flying over the Potomac means any crash doesn't hit residential areas, unless they are unlucky enough to hit a bridge.

Sure but you can train around DC without crossing the final approach of the commercial airport that has 380 flights a day.

I think the Potomac flight paths were a post 9/11 thing. They were confined even further in 2020. But what that actually means is that the commercial jets are only and always in very specific airspace.

 

[Devildog]

My opinion is that the Blackhawk pilots were either confused or disoriented. That happens at night when spatial awareness is very low if you're not used to it. When I flew in the Marines as a CH-53E crew chief, we always flew "dark" (no outside lighting) when we were flying on NVGs. Once we were transitioning back to base over residential areas and in the proximity of John Wayne airport in Orange County, we turned all of our anti-collision lights on like what you would normally do for any GA or commercial aircraft.

I do not know if they were on NVGs during the flight, but if the lights were off, I have to assume they were.

 

[SWJJ]

Not sure if this could have had any effect on the outcome of this, but didn't the head of the FAA resign abruptly like 2 weeks ago because of some power struggle with Elon Mush who was targeting the FAA for cuts under his Dept of Efficiency title?