NTSB News Talk – Aviation Accidents, Safety Investigations & Pilot Lessons

Reagan National Midair NTSB Hearing Day 1: Army Black Hawk & Regional Jet Crash Testimony

Jul 30, 2025
Jennifer Homendy, the NTSB Chair, dives into her frustrations with the FAA’s response to the tragic midair collision near Reagan National Airport. Topics like serious inaccuracies in helicopter altimeters highlight systemic safety flaws. Detailed analyses of communication before the crash reveal critical misunderstandings between air traffic control and pilots. The conversation emphasizes the need for improved aviation safety protocols and better documentation practices to prevent future tragedies and protect lives.
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INSIGHT

Rotor Downwash Affects Altimeters

  • Rotor downwash significantly lowers helicopter barometric altimeter readings by 80 to 130 feet during flight.
  • Despite controlled ground tests showing accuracy, actual flight conditions challenge precise altitude measurement.
INSIGHT

Altitude Measurement Tolerances Add Up

  • Transponder encoders transmit altitude in 100-foot increments with allowable errors up to 90 feet.
  • Combined altimeter and encoder inaccuracies can cause up to a 100-foot altitude difference between pilot instruments.
INSIGHT

Army vs Civilian Altitude Standards

  • Army pilots treat altitude targets with ±100 feet tolerance, considering 300 feet acceptable when targeting 200 feet.
  • Civilian pilots view 200 feet MSL as a hard ceiling with no tolerance in DCA corridor flights.
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