Archive · 2 Aug 2025
Altimeter Discrepancy Probed in Fatal U.S. Army Helicopter Crash
A helicopter and a plane crashed in the sky, killing everyone on board.
Investigators found something odd with the helicopter's altitude instruments: they might have been showing the wrong height.
This means the pilots could have thought they were flying higher or lower than they actually were.
Tests on similar helicopters showed that the readings were significantly different.
Now, the NTSB is looking into this to figure out what went wrong and how to prevent this from happening again.
A mid-air collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane near Washington, D.C., resulted in 67 fatalities.
The collision occurred on January 29th, 2024, near Reagan National Airport.
NTSB hearings revealed a discrepancy in the helicopter's altitude readings.
Tests on similar Black Hawk helicopters showed an 80- to 130-foot difference between radar and barometric altimeters in flight.
The NTSB chair called the altimeter discrepancy significant, warranting further investigation.
- Who
- A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by a subsidiary of American Airlines.
- What
- A mid-air collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane.
- When
- January 29, 2024.
- Where
- Near Reagan National Airport, Washington, D.C.
- Why
- Potential faulty altitude readings on the helicopter are under investigation.
Findings
Investigation
Findings
Findings
The NTSB is investigating the cause of the accident.
Investigation
Findings indicate a possible discrepancy in the Black Hawk helicopter altimeters.
- Casualties
- 67
- Aircraft Involved
- U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by a subsidiary of American Airlines.
- Location
- Near Reagan National Airport, Washington, D.C.
- Date
- January 29, 2024
- Altimeter Issue
- Discrepancy between radar and barometric altimeters
Sources
Night Vision Goggles May Have Hampered Chopper Pilots Before Crash With Jet: Experts
Washington plane collision: 'Concerning' 100-foot altimeter error led to deadly US Army Black Hawk helicopter-jet crash, reveals NTSB investigation
