NTSB Issues Recommendations After Fatal D.C. Collision

Investigators push for adoption and use of ADS-B Out and In.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 11:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). [Shutterstock/TJ Brown]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's final report on the January 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which killed 67 people, primarily cited the FAA's improper placement of helicopter routes and overreliance on visual separation as probable causes.
The top recommendation from the NTSB is the installation and use of ADS-B In aboard aircraft, in addition to ADS-B Out, to enhance pilots' situational awareness and help prevent future collisions.
The report also includes extensive recommendations for the FAA, military, and air traffic control, focusing on improved airborne collision avoidance systems, enhanced controller training, better data sharing, and a review of helicopter route structures.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The installation and use of ADS-B In aboard aircraft in addition to the use of ADS-B Out tops the list of recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in its final report on the midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) in January 2025.

The use of ADS-B Out and ADS-B In can give pilots better situational awareness as they can “see” where other traffic is, provided that traffic is also using ADS-B Out and In.