[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 131 (Friday, July 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30991-30992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12923]


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NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD


Investigative Hearing

    A recent midair collision accident southeast of Ronald Reagan 
Washington National Airport (DCA), Arlington, Virginia, has motivated 
this investigative hearing.
    On January 29, 2025, about 2048 eastern standard time (EST), a 
Sikorsky UH-60L, operated by the US Army under the callsign PAT25, and 
an MHI (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) RJ Aviation (formerly Bombardier) 
CL-600-2C10 (CRJ700), N709PS, operated by PSA Airlines as flight 5342, 
collided in flight approximately 0.5 miles southeast of Ronald Reagan 
Washington National Airport (DCA), Arlington, Virginia, and impacted 
the Potomac River in southwest Washington, District of Columbia.
    The 2 pilots, 2 flight attendants, and 60 passengers aboard the 
airplane and all 3 crew members aboard the helicopter were fatally 
injured. Both aircraft were destroyed as a result of the accident. 
Flight 5342 was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 as a scheduled domestic passenger 
flight from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT), 
Wichita, Kansas, to DCA. PAT25 originated from Davison Army Airfield 
(DAA), Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for the purpose of the pilot's annual 
standardization evaluation with the use of night vision goggles (NVGs). 
Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of DCA at 
the time of the accident.
    The investigative hearing will discuss the following issue areas:
     Overview of Accident Helicopter's Air Data Systems and 
Altimeters.
     Overview of the DCA Class B Airspace and Helicopter 
Routes.
     Procedures and Guidance Used by DCA Air Traffic Control.
     Overview of Collision Avoidance Technology.
     Safety Data Available and Safety Management Systems at the 
Various Organizations.
    Parties to the hearing are the Air Line Pilots Association; Federal 
Aviation Administration; National Air Traffic Controllers Association; 
PSA Airlines; Sikorsky; US Army.

Order of Proceedings

1. Opening Statement by the Chair of the Board of Inquiry
2. Introduction of the Board of Inquiry and Technical Panel
3. Introduction of the Parties to the Hearing
4. Introduction of Exhibits by Hearing Officer
5. Overview of the incident and the investigation by Investigator-In-
Charge
6. Calling of Witnesses by Hearing Officer
7. Closing Statement by the Chair of the Board of Inquiry

    The investigative hearing will be held at the NTSB Boardroom and 
Conference Center, 429 L'Enfant Plaza East SW, Washington, DC 20594 on 
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. eastern time (ET), 
Thursday, July 31, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. eastern time (ET), and 
Friday, August 1, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET.
    Media planning to cover the investigative hearing are asked to 
contact Peter Knudson at (202) 314-6100 or [email protected].
    The investigative hearing will be transmitted live via the NTSB's 
YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/NTSBgov. An archival 
video of the hearing will be available via the website for 30 days 
after the hearing.
    Individuals requiring reasonable accommodation and/or wheelchair

[[Page 30992]]

access directions should contact Daniel Bower at (202) 314-6562 or by 
email at [email protected].
    NTSB Investigative Hearing Officer: Daniel Bower_
[email protected].
    The National Transportation Safety Board is holding this 
investigative hearing pursuant to the provisions of the Government in 
the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b) and as authorized by 49 CFR 845.2.

Candi R. Bing,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-12923 Filed 7-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7533-01-P