NTSB Animation - DCA Midair Collision Between PSA Airlines and Military Helicopter

Video Description

This animation reconstructs the sequence of events leading to the midair collision between a Sikorsky UH-60L helicopter operated by the United States Army and a PSA Airlines CRJ700. The collision occurred at approximately 8:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, about one-half mile southeast of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The sequence of events is reconstructed using data from Flight Data Recorders (FDRs), Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs), radar, Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B), Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications, and surveillance video. The animation includes: • Audio playback of ATC communications • A synchronized transcript of CVR and ATC communications • Audio narration describing the sequence of events The animation begins with a labeled satellite image showing the locations of DCA, Memorial Bridge, the Wilson Bridge and Davison Army Airfield. Photographs of an exemplar Sikorsky UH-60L and the accident airplane are inset on the satellite image, and the impact location is marked with a red star. The image identifies the radio communication call signs for the two aircraft. The helicopter is identified as PAT25, and the airplane is identified as Bluestreak 5342. Helicopter routes designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are shown as dark blue lines on a satellite image background. Helicopter Route 1 is highlighted with a light blue-green line on top of the dark blue line and Helicopter Route 4 is highlighted with a yellow line on top of the dark blue line. Altitude restrictions along the helicopter routes are indicated by color-coded dotted lines and text labels identifying the maximum altitude: • North of Chain Bridge: Yellow dotted line with maximum altitude of 1,300 feet • Between Chain Bridge and Key Bridge: Green dotted line with maximum altitude of 700 feet • Between Key Bridge and Memorial Bridge: White dotted line with maximum altitude of 300 feet • South of Memorial Bridge to Wilson Bridge: Red dotted line with maximum altitude of 200 feet Events between 8:33 pm and 8:45 pm are described using a sequence of still images. A real-time animation begins at 8:45 pm, about 3 minutes before the collision. At 8:33 pm, PAT25 requests and receives clearance to travel from Cabin John along Route 1 and transition to Route 4. This request is presented with synchronized ATC audio and a transcript in white text on a blue background. ATC communications between the local controller and the crew of flight 5342 are also presented, with synchronized audio and a transcript. Flight 5342 is first cleared to land on runway 1, and then the crew accepts a change to circle and land on runway 33. The airplane’s location at each communication is indicated by a dot on a magenta flight path shown on a satellite image. A magnified satellite photograph highlights runway 1 (marked with a yellow arrow) and runway 33 (marked with a green arrow) at DCA. Selected in-cockpit communications from the helicopter CVR transcript are shown in white text against a black background. The helicopter’s location at each communication is indicated by a dot on an orange flight path shown on a satellite image. The animation then shifts to a real-time display of the final 3 minutes before the collision. On screen: • The right side shows positions and altitudes of both aircraft on a satellite image. The airplane is represented by a moving magenta arrowhead with a magenta track. The helicopter is represented by a moving orange arrowhead with an orange track. Altitudes are indicated by text labels. • The lower left displays a time-synchronized altitude profile of both aircraft plotted against the distance north from the point of collision. The airplane altitude is indicated with a magenta line and the helicopter altitude is indicated with an orange line. • The upper left shows ATC communications and helicopter CVR transcript with text. • ATC audio continues with synchronized text transcription. The animation is followed by a surveillance video showing the accident aircraft up to the point of collision. Flight 5342 is identified with text near the top center of the frame. Aircraft lined up for approach to DCA are circled in yellow and identified with text on the right side of the screen. PAT25 is identified with text as it appears from the left side of the screen. For more information, please visit https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA25MA108.aspx