American Eagle - helicopter collision

[Trogdor]

Somewhat surprised there isn’t already a thread on this here.

Was shocked to wake up to that news this morning. As one who doesn’t watch TV (seriously, at all), I didn’t see the news last night. Went to bed around 9 or 9:30 pm.

Didn’t hear anything even though I have a view of the edge of DCA from my apartment and live less than 1.5 miles from where the plane went down.

 

[jis]

Just saw the first NTSB briefing. Not much that is specific info. Mostly information about procedures etc.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

I was surprised too....

One another board I follow, which shall remain nameless, there was some interesting, if unconfirmed, information about the choppers origin....

 

[CHamilton]

For those of you who are interested, JH wants everyone to know that he's okay. He was not on the plane.

 

[PVD]

Thank you, I was sort of afraid to ask.

 

[Cal]

I was very shocked too, since the US hasn't seen an air disaster like this in over a decade. Seeing the photos of the wreckage for the first time was truly a horrible sight.

 

[Asher]

Tragic event. That airport is right next to a restricted zone, the particular runway the aircraft was landing on is really short and the GPS approach has two turns equaling 53° just a short distance from the runway. What the Helicopter was crossing at that low of an altitude is mystifying.

 

[west point]

Years ago, cut my teeth on that approach the CRJ was to make. For the CRJ that is not a really short runway. It is more than adequate The approach is very straight forward. Once flight accepts landing on 33 the tower will clear next aircraft into position and hold runway 36. Tower says cleared to land 33 cross 36 or report across 36 during bad visibility situations. Once acknowledge land on 33 tower clears next airplane to taxi into position and hold runway 36. Once 33 landing clears 36 the aircraft in position is cleared to take off runway 36.

Now Bolling AFB is a real monster especially when it was still an active air force station. Do not know the situation now but Bolling and WASH used common frequencies with any military traffic not landing cross over center of field. Do not remember Bolling altitudes then but now helicopters are supposed to cross over at 200 feet AGL. Also, helicopter was not in Bolling airspace. The CRJ was in DCA airspace and at ~~400+ feet AGL.

Cannot ever remember a nighttime landing on 33 so cannot comment on visibility. With so many ground LED lights must be much more difficult now.