To the impact,” National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) official Todd Inman said during a news briefing on February 1. “Obviously an impact occurred,
And I would say when an impact occurs, that is typically where the altitude of both aircraft were at the moment,” Inman said, adding that they do not have the data from the helicopter.
Initial data from the airplane’s black box revealed contradictory altitude measurements for both planes.
The American Airlines aircraft was flying at 325 feet with a 25-foot margin of error on each side when it was struck over the Potomac River.
The Black Hawk, however, was flying at a height of around 200 feet, which is the most that a helicopter can safely operate in the region, according to data from the control tower.
When they have the data from the helicopter’s black box, which was recovered but soaked, maybe they will be able to reconcile the disparities in altitude.
