The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB, an independent investigative agency of the United States Government), which is leading the investigation, is continuing operations to recover the wreckage of the Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft and the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter, involved in a mid-air collision that occurred at approximately 9:00 pm local time on January 29, in the skies of Washington, above the Potomac River.

Bombardier CRJ-700 Recovery

Working with the Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (Supsalv), additional aircraft components were recovered, including the right wing, center fuselage section, portions of the left wing and left fuselage, significant forward portions of the cabin and cockpit, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, tail cone, rudder and elevators; Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) computer; and Quick Access Recorder. The recovered debris was transported to a secure facility where it will undergo a detailed wreckage layout examination.

Black Hawk radar data and altitude

The agency confirmed that the radar data displayed by the control tower at Washington-"Reagan" Airport is provided by the Potomac Tracon center, which combines information from multiple radar sensors and the ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) system. According to this information, the Black Hawk was at an altitude of 300 feet at the time of impact. However, this figure is rounded to the nearest 100 feet, and a more detailed verification will be necessary to ascertain the precise data relating to the helicopter.
To complete the analysis, the recovery of the aircraft wreckage is essential and expected by the end of this week.

Flight Recorder Analysis and Maintenance

NTSB investigators continue to: decrypt data from the Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) of both aircraft; synchronize information from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Black Hawk’s CVR; and examine maintenance documentation for both the Bombardier CRJ-700 and the USAF UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for any technical or operational anomalies.

Below, the most recent B-roll made available by the NTSB.