Mid Air Collision in DC

[torredcuda]

This!

 

[not so famous bob]

It was one minute from the time the controller first made contact with the helicopter, advising them of the plane, till impact. 15 seconds before impact the helicopter was told to pass behind the plane.

one minute is plenty to change altitude in most all small aircraft , even bigger ones could probably have avoided the crash if if warned a minute ahead of time...

 

[not so famous bob]

There were only 19 of the 30 Air Traffic Controllers in the tower. That's how understaffed they are running. One Air Traffic Controller was handling the helicopter and the incoming plane,and talking to both aircrafts on two different frequencies. I saw a time lapse of the tower asking the helicopter can you see the plane. That was five seconds before impact. They replied yes. At that time another plane was taking off. It appears that they thought that was the plane that the tower was taking about. Two seconds before impact the tower says go behind the plane. I don't believe that the helicopter ever saw the decending plane coming in from above until it was right in front of them with no time left to react.

atc should have known their altitude way before impact ...

 

[torredcuda]

The helo was on VFR and was told there was a plane approaching and to what runway so they should have been aware of the incoming plane AND their path that was taking them across the approach slope. IMO they were unaware of their path and which direction the plane was coming from and they should have known BOTH.

 

[RJ Squirrel]

This!

What she said

 

[j-c-c-62]

All the back and forth and analyzing spit second miscommunications made by experienced personnel who are well trained just proves to me, this entire flight path "normal" situation was from the get-go, once humans were involved, a disaster waiting to happen. Wasting time not accepting that is another big mistake.

 

[hdwrench]

i have zero faith in air travel today , that’s why i don’t fly . fry my *** if you please but stupid stuff like this happens way to often . did they tell anyone that the airport there flying into is understaffed before there departure? of course not … way to many secrets if ya ask me ….i’ve read that there have been several other incidents at this airport with close calls with helos…my condolences go out to the victims and family of this tragedy!

 

[torredcuda]

Like I said, allowing a helo on VFR at night, probably using night vision goggles, to cross an active approach slope should have never been allowed. I bet going forward the FAA will change the rules regarding that.

 

[Dennis H]

In my former business life, “traffic” spoken on air meant radio traffic (with exception) and was not specific. Rail Operations. Used to expedite and prevent repetition. eg, “did you copy the traffic? (information). Human error. And yes, Organizational focus on hiring can infringe on technical training time. I have witnessed this first hand.

 

[torredcuda]

"In the context of Air Traffic Control (ATC), "traffic" simply refers to other aircraft that are currently in the airspace near a pilot's location, which the ATC controller will inform them about to maintain safe separation and avoid collisions; essentially, any other aircraft that could potentially be a conflict. "

 

[dadsbee]

Guys can blame ATC all they want, but they were definitely not the cause. Blackhawk PIC flying at an altitude he shouldn't have been at period and not paying attention to his surroundings. He could have hovered ffs until he figured it out...

 

[chargervert]

While they were not the cause,they could have prevented it. The helicopter pilot saw the plane taking off,not the one decending from above them. It is their job to inform the Helicopter pilot of the incoming plane entering their airspace. Had the proper staffing levels been maintained,and not one controller doing two jobs this would not have happened. The pilot of the helicopter was given two seconds to react at speed.