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Investigation Reveals Critical Altimeter Error in Fatal Crash
US military investigators have determined that a Black Hawk helicopter involved in January's catastrophic collision with a passenger plane near Washington D.C. was flying significantly higher than permitted due to faulty altimeters. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found systemic errors in Black Hawk altitude instruments that displayed readings up to 40 meters below actual flight levels.
The Tragic Collision
On January 30, 2025, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided with a commercial airliner over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The impact occurred at approximately 90 meters altitude - 50% higher than the 60-meter limit for military helicopters in this corridor. All 67 people aboard both aircraft perished in what became the deadliest US aviation disaster in over two decades.
Technical Failure Revealed
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed: "The altimeters in these Black Hawk helicopters show incorrect altitude data. Crews may be flying substantially higher than instruments indicate." The investigation discovered that the helicopter's actual altitude deviated by 30-40 meters from instrument readings - far exceeding the airport's 23-meter maximum tolerance for altimeter errors.
Washington's Complex Airspace
The crash has intensified scrutiny of the congested airspace around the US capital. Ronald Reagan Airport (DCA) sits at the center of overlapping flight paths from three commercial airports and multiple military bases, including Joint Base Andrews and Davison Army Airfield. Previous NTSB recommendations to separate helicopter traffic from commercial flight paths were reportedly rejected as "too political."
Ongoing Investigation Questions
The NTSB is now examining why the US Army hadn't conducted comprehensive altimeter testing and why pilots weren't warned about potential discrepancies. The Black Hawk remains the US military's primary medium-lift helicopter, with over 2,000 operational units across all service branches. The Army has initiated fleet-wide altimeter inspections following the investigation's preliminary findings.
