Washington DC (DCA) accident

[fdcg27]

A horrible event that was certainly preventable, as accidents always are.
Maybe the helo should not have been operating in the area that is was. The CRJ crew appears to have done nothing wrong.
Does anyone else have a problem with allowing night VFR operations in a congested terminal area?
The CRJ was VFR as it circled to land, but it was on a well defined path.
The helo was just out there VFR in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[B6_Dolphin]

Really sad, I was stationed there actually. So the Blackhawk was the "Executive" version?

Yes, it was VH-60 "Gold Top". It is discussed in the following article, which includes a video of some in an air demo:

https://jalopnik.com/these-elite-military-helicopter-units-fly-washingtons-p-1704260996

 

[ctechbob]

Juan Update

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

So, in order for the TOWER to get a traffic alert, the helicopter would have to have a transponder on.

I bet the TCAS on the CRJ was totally inhibited as they collided just below 400.

I can’t see that ever being allowed again. A VFR helicopter flying head on initially towards a civilian aircraft that turns final at the same altitude and the only collision avoidance is based on the helicopter pilot saying they have traffic in sight and request visual separation while civilian pilots ( on VHF ) aren’t even aware of it.

 

[Cujet]

I'm not speculating here. Just a note that way too many pilots spend all their time aloft with eyes down on the FMS.

 

[andrew_j]

So, 15 minutes of experience in an environment, sitting in the back of the airplane, with no visibility, no ability to see what’s going on, no actual understanding or experience with the communications, requirements or training, in other words, without any actual, first-hand knowledge of how that environment is structured or operates, allows them to reach a conclusion?

Fascinating.

What a gift they have - able to reach a conclusion when in possession of no actual data.

Breaking news and this is happening on live TV. Really sad reality.

 

[loneryder]

Procedurally speaking, I am amazed that with the 24/7 density of commercial aircraft traffic at DCA that military flights would even be allowed to cross the airspace where commercial traffic is landing.

What do bet the NTSB will have a procedural recommendation for a change in traffic patterns for the airspace around DCA between military and commercial traffic?

Bingo! Military aircraft have their own restricted airspace in that area. I don't think there is any way that helo was supposed to be 400' above the river at the end of runway 33. They are now reporting that they were short ATCs in that tower and that one ATC was handling both helo and civilian traffic. There's supposed to be 2 different handlers. Looking at the actual flightpaths of those 2 aircraft, the plane did exactly as he was supposed to while the helo went from one side of the river to the airport side. Doesn't make sense.
Awful tragedy.

 

[loneryder]

Juan Update

It looks to me that the helo turns right off of his route. He's supposed to stay on the right side of the river(as we are looking at it).

 

[M56959]

Had to moderate this topic for conspiracy theories, political commentary and bickering.

When we have some more concrete information this topic might be continued.

Currently it is locked.