Remember the DC helicopter crash in January that killed 64 people, including 12 children?

Turns out the female pilot who was flying was given multiple warnings and was directly told by her male instructor/copilot to turn the opposite direction of the passenger jet to avoid a collision.

She ignored him and flew straight into it.

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885389)

https://archive.is/23Uv1

Why are cons saying the female pilot ignored instructions?

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885698)

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/business/dc-plane-crash-reagan-airport.html

Up to now attention has focused on the Black Hawk’s altitude, which was too high and placed the helicopter directly in the jet’s landing path at National Airport. But The Times found new details that show that the failures were far more complex than previously known.

The helicopter crew appeared to have made more than one mistake. Not only was the Black Hawk flying too high, but in the final seconds before the crash, its pilot failed to heed a directive from her co-pilot, an Army flight instructor, to change course.

===

But even as it reached that juncture, Warrant Officer Eaves evidently felt obligated to repeat his instruction: The Black Hawk was at 300 feet, he said, and needed to descend.

Captain Lobach said she would. But two and a half minutes later, the Black Hawk still was above 200 feet — a dangerously high level.

====

The Black Hawk was 15 seconds away from crossing paths with the jet. Warrant Officer Eaves then turned his attention to Captain Lobach.

He told her he believed that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the east river bank.

Turning left would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was heading for Runway 33 at an altitude of roughly 300 feet.

She did not turn left.

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885460)

https://archive.is/23Uv1

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885700)

Also, what happened to the claim that the pilot "disobeyed orders?" Did we bail on that theory already?

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48888606)

cons btfo here.

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885462)

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/business/dc-plane-crash-reagan-airport.html

Up to now attention has focused on the Black Hawk’s altitude, which was too high and placed the helicopter directly in the jet’s landing path at National Airport. But The Times found new details that show that the failures were far more complex than previously known.

The helicopter crew appeared to have made more than one mistake. Not only was the Black Hawk flying too high, but in the final seconds before the crash, its pilot failed to heed a directive from her co-pilot, an Army flight instructor, to change course.

===

But even as it reached that juncture, Warrant Officer Eaves evidently felt obligated to repeat his instruction: The Black Hawk was at 300 feet, he said, and needed to descend.

Captain Lobach said she would. But two and a half minutes later, the Black Hawk still was above 200 feet — a dangerously high level.

====

The Black Hawk was 15 seconds away from crossing paths with the jet. Warrant Officer Eaves then turned his attention to Captain Lobach.

He told her he believed that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the east river bank.

Turning left would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was heading for Runway 33 at an altitude of roughly 300 feet.

She did not turn left.

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885467)

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885472)

https://archive.is/23Uv1

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885701)

hehe so random

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48888473)

"The controller also could have done more.

Though he had delegated the prime responsibility for evading other air traffic to the Black Hawk crew under visual separation, he continued to monitor the helicopter, as his job required. Yet he did not issue clear, urgent instructions to the Black Hawk to avert the crash, aviation experts say."

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885690)

“Some former military pilots said that by issuing a proactive command to pass behind the jet, the controller was going above and beyond his obligations, especially under see-and-avoid conditions, and that an experienced Black Hawk crew should have known what to do without help.

“Still, some regulators and controllers said that the controller in this case could have done more.

“He could have told the Black Hawk crew where Flight 5342 was positioned and which way it was bound. (The F.A.A. manual instructions direct controllers to use the hours of a clock in describing locations.) He could have provided the jet’s distance from the helicopter in nautical miles or feet.”

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48888609)

1. You can't get TOO MUCH assistance from air traffic control. If they're not talking to you, it's because they have to yell at some korean pilot who can't understand English. They don't have the staff on hand to talk to you all the time. They figure you're an Army helicopter pilot, you can handle things on your own, and they leave you in the lurch.

2. Just because you're used to being treated that way by ATC doesn't make the accident your fault.

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48888636)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90Xw3tQC0I

helicopter confirms plane in sight for landing on rw 33 at 35 seconds (they may have been looking at another plane)

ATC then asks them to confirm again they have plane in sight and to pass behind them at 1:11. Collision is like 15 seconds later.

i'm no aviation expert but i'm not sure what else atc is supposed to do here, especially since they apparently didn't have real time altitude data from the helicopter (which was way above 200 feet)

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48888806)

Makes me think they routinely come this close to crashing daily

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5717188&forum_id=2#48885736)