A U. S.
Army investigative report has identified equipment problems, inadequate training and gaps in safety oversight as contributing factors in the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The crash killed 67 people, according to the report seen by Reuters.
The report, completed in May, found that two failed radio transmissions were a key factor because the helicopter crew did not receive critical information from air traffic control.
Technical and Training Deficiencies
Army investigators also discovered technical problems with the Black Hawk and a pattern of helicopter crews failing to meet semiannual minimum flight hours.
Many helicopters in the Army battalion lacked Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance systems, including the aircraft involved in the crash.
The report found shortcomings in Army coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration over helicopter incidents in the Washington area before the collision.
“The working group did not discuss airspace violations, near-miss reports, or pilot deviations,” the Army investigative report said.
The report also identified problems with the helicopter's safety equipment and altitude information.
Improper maintenance prevented the aircraft from transmitting ADS-B Out location data, while unresolved issues contributed to inaccurate altitude information.
After the collision, the Army ordered urgent inspections of aircraft transponders.
According to the report, all 3,600 Army helicopters had been inspected by July 2025.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the Army had made significant progress but still needed to strengthen its aviation safety system.
“The Army’s aviation safety system failed to consistently detect, interpret, and act on signals of latent hazards, resulting in degraded safety assurance, organizational learning, and safety culture,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in an Oct.
1 letter to the Army.
The Army report also faulted FAA air traffic control for using inconsistent terminology and incomplete traffic advisories.
“Non-standard terminology for directing air traffic and providing incomplete traffic advisories,” the Army report said in its assessment of FAA control practices.
The Army said Thursday that it had strengthened training and surveillance checks, completed new inspections and testing related to altitude awareness, and was pursuing an FAA data-sharing agreement to identify potential midair collision risks.
The report recommended stronger training for military pilots operating near Washington and Baltimore commercial airports and reviews of Army helicopter operations near major cities in the United States, South Korea, Japan and Germany.
The family of First Officer Sam Lilley, who died in the collision, said the report documented failures involving known altimeter problems, near-miss reporting, training, risk mitigation and safety culture.
“The system failed everyone that night.
The Army’s report acknowledges failures involving known altimeter issues, near-miss reporting, training, risk mitigation and safety culture,” Lilley’s family said.
