Helicopter Crash in DC
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Mid air collision between American Eagle 5342 (N709PS) and helo Army PAT-25 (VH-60), both aircraft in the Potomac off rwy 33
That is from the airport authority
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@89th said in Helicopter Crash in DC:
Incredible. January too. Reminded me of the Air Florida icy river crash in 1980 or so.
I remember that one, I left work early because of the snow
We watched Lennie Skutnick - the hero on live tv, an innocent bystander, he dove into the Potomac and rescued a passenger, maybe it was a stewardess
@Copper said in Helicopter Crash in DC:
@89th said in Helicopter Crash in DC:
Incredible. January too. Reminded me of the Air Florida icy river crash in 1980 or so.
I remember that one, I left work early because of the snow
We watched Lennie Skutnick - the hero on live tv, an innocent bystander, he dove into the Potomac and rescued a passenger, maybe it was a stewardess
Yeah he kept helping people into life rings from the helicopter but when they came back for him, he was gone
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Live tower audio. The helicopter was told to maintain visual separation and fly BEHIND the jet. Obviously it seems this is a major piloting issue by the army chopper. "Fly behind CRJ, visual sep" around 17:32, with background reaction voices at 17:49 or so.
https://archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-Twr-Jan-30-2025-0130Z.mp3
UPDATE: Better link for the audio. The helicopter pilot is heard at 0:10 "aircraft in sight, visual separation".
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Blue Streak 5342 is the CRJ. Pat 25 is the helo
4 mins prior to crash: "Tower, Blue Streak 5342 on Mount Vernon Visual Runway 1"
"Blue Streak 5342, Washington Tower, winds are 320/17G25 can you take Runway 33?"
30 sec pause
"Yeah we can do Runway 33 for Bluestreak 5342"
"Bluestreak 5342 (unclear) bridge make the turn for 33, cleared to land 33"
"Change to Runway 33, cleared to land 33 bluestreak 5342"
Other traffic being handled to Runway 1.
Approx 2.5 mins to crash:
Pat25: "PAT25 memorial."
Tower: Pat25 rodger.
Approx 1:20 till crash:
Tower: "PAT25 traffic just south of (unclear) bridge is a CRJ at 1,200ft turning for Runway 33"
PAT25: PAT25 has the Traffic in sight, request visual separation
Tower: Visual separation approved.
Tower: "American 1631 winds are (unclear) no delay, traffic on 3 mile final for Runway 33 cleared for immediate takeoff"
"Cleared for takeoff, AA1631"
Approximately 10 seconds prior to collision
Tower: "PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight?"
Tower: "PAT25 (unclear maybe pass behind) CRJ"
Pat25: Affirm. Pat 25 has traffic in sight request visual separation.
Tower: Separation.
15 seconds later
"Tower, AA472 (unclear)"
"American 472 washington tower" alarms going off "Oooh!" "Oh my god!" *click
15 seconds later
"Tower, did you see that?"
Tower frantically begins commanding go arounds and deconfliction.
