An initial examination of the flight data and voice recorder from a Black Hawk helicopter involved in a tragic collision with a commuter plane in Washington, DC, on January 29 has provided some insights into the events leading up to the incident. According to officials, the data suggests that the helicopter's altimeter may have been inaccurate, and there were possible communication issues with the control tower at Reagan National Airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shared that the helicopter's flight data and voice recorders indicated that the pilot and her instructor had conflicting altitude readings just before the crash. The radio altimeter on the Black Hawk showed an altitude of 278 feet, but there are discrepancies in the data that need further verification.
