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 cited multiple probable causes, including the FAA's helicopter route placement near a runway approach, overreliance on visual separation, and inadequate data sharing.
A primary recommendation is the installation and use of ADS-B In on aircraft, in addition to ADS-B Out, to significantly improve pilot situational awareness and allow for earlier evasive action.
Extensive recommendations target the FAA and ATC, focusing on enhanced scenario-based training, improved workload management, better risk assessment tools, and revised high-density airport regulations to prevent similar accidents.
The Army is also directed to review helicopter route charts, ensure their visibility on civilian flight materials, and address pilot awareness regarding altimeter error tolerances, which contributed to the accident helicopter flying above its prescribed altitude.

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.