Plane crash DCA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did people read the NYT article yesterday? I understand there were many things that went wrong that night, including understaffing in the tower, but why the hell was a pilot with inferior flying skills in the area that night? I was struck by the description of her lack of talent as a pilot. I’m sorry if that is hurtful to her family.

Can someone paste the relevant part, or post a link to the article?

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/us/politics/dc-plane-helicopter-crash.html

....That same week, Mr. Eaves, assigned to give her the annual flight exam, told his girlfriend that he feared Captain Lobach was unprepared for the flight, according to an N.T.S.B. interview document.
Captain Lobach, recalled the girlfriend, was described by Mr. Eaves as “not where she should be,” according to the document. It was the girlfriend’s impression, investigators said in the document, that Mr. Eaves “thought the other pilot was not grasping things they should have understood by that point in her flying career.”
Nonetheless, Mr. Eaves was professional and even jovial during the Jan. 29 flight, according to a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder.....

....He appeared to try to soothe Captain Lobach’s embarrassment over a directional mistake by joking that he was “all game” to blow by a town at low altitude but that they would have to make a “blood pact” not to discuss it with anyone later.
She appeared to have recognized the tongue-in-cheek suggestion, replying, “Nope, right.”
But the exam did not go smoothly.
More than an hour before the crash, during a portion of the flight with choppy winds, Mr. Eaves took the flight controls from her, according to the transcript.
At another point, when they were evidently practicing landing and other maneuvers on a rural airfield, she was forced to “go around” one landing area on short notice — a tactic that is often used when an aircraft cannot land safely, aviators told The Times. When Mr. Eaves asked her about the mistake, she blamed the height of her chair, according to the transcript.
She also erroneously turned left when she should have gone right to avoid winds, and turned northward toward Great Falls, Va., when she should have been heading south to return to the Army base, prompting Mr. Eaves to ask her where they were going, according to the transcript.
At one point, the transcript says, she described herself as “dizzy,” but quickly added that it was “not too bad.”

Little missteps might be relatively forgivable on a deserted airfield or at thousands of feet in elevation, where there is less traffic. But once the Black Hawk entered the Washington area’s airspace — known as Class B, the busiest grade — there was very little margin for error when problems emerged.

So it's the supervisor's fault because at that point, he should have taken over the controls.

Perhaps..it seems like Lobach was unwell, had directional dyslexia and Eaves was trying not to be/sound sexist. Still Eaves should not have allowed Lobach near DC airspace. Makes you wonder how many pilots fly under personal "unwell" conditions. With a big gulp asking did they rule out suicide/murder in this case?

Lobach’s comment about the height of the chair is interesting. From reading an astronaut’s memoir, I learned that NASA won’t accept would-be astronauts over 5’10”, I think. Does the army not have height requirements (minimum or maximum) for flying its helicopters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading the NY Times article about the hearing, I don't know how anyone could think this was still a VIP transport in disguise. It is quite clear that it was a training/certification exercise that went very wrong.

People have said it was an internet rumor tho who knows what was happening around that same time to-from Langley.

The CIA doesn’t even HAVE a helipad at Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty clear that this entire “investigation” has been structured in such a way to put all the blame on the female pilot.

Not on the two men flying the more maneuverable jet.

Not on the man sitting next to Lobach, either.

They’re trying to put the blame on her.

So predictable.

Pilot was grossly incompetent the whole day and check ride. It’s all on the black box. And wet log book.

Disgusting.

If the pilot was that incompetent then he never should’ve been trusted to be giving Lobach the check ride in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did people read the NYT article yesterday? I understand there were many things that went wrong that night, including understaffing in the tower, but why the hell was a pilot with inferior flying skills in the area that night? I was struck by the description of her lack of talent as a pilot. I’m sorry if that is hurtful to her family.

Can someone paste the relevant part, or post a link to the article?

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/us/politics/dc-plane-helicopter-crash.html

....That same week, Mr. Eaves, assigned to give her the annual flight exam, told his girlfriend that he feared Captain Lobach was unprepared for the flight, according to an N.T.S.B. interview document.
Captain Lobach, recalled the girlfriend, was described by Mr. Eaves as “not where she should be,” according to the document. It was the girlfriend’s impression, investigators said in the document, that Mr. Eaves “thought the other pilot was not grasping things they should have understood by that point in her flying career.”
Nonetheless, Mr. Eaves was professional and even jovial during the Jan. 29 flight, according to a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder.....

....He appeared to try to soothe Captain Lobach’s embarrassment over a directional mistake by joking that he was “all game” to blow by a town at low altitude but that they would have to make a “blood pact” not to discuss it with anyone later.
She appeared to have recognized the tongue-in-cheek suggestion, replying, “Nope, right.”
But the exam did not go smoothly.
More than an hour before the crash, during a portion of the flight with choppy winds, Mr. Eaves took the flight controls from her, according to the transcript.
At another point, when they were evidently practicing landing and other maneuvers on a rural airfield, she was forced to “go around” one landing area on short notice — a tactic that is often used when an aircraft cannot land safely, aviators told The Times. When Mr. Eaves asked her about the mistake, she blamed the height of her chair, according to the transcript.
She also erroneously turned left when she should have gone right to avoid winds, and turned northward toward Great Falls, Va., when she should have been heading south to return to the Army base, prompting Mr. Eaves to ask her where they were going, according to the transcript.
At one point, the transcript says, she described herself as “dizzy,” but quickly added that it was “not too bad.”

Little missteps might be relatively forgivable on a deserted airfield or at thousands of feet in elevation, where there is less traffic. But once the Black Hawk entered the Washington area’s airspace — known as Class B, the busiest grade — there was very little margin for error when problems emerged.

So it's the supervisor's fault because at that point, he should have taken over the controls.

Perhaps..it seems like Lobach was unwell, had directional dyslexia and Eaves was trying not to be/sound sexist. Still Eaves should not have allowed Lobach near DC airspace. Makes you wonder how many pilots fly under personal "unwell" conditions. With a big gulp asking did they rule out suicide/murder in this case?

Lobach’s comment about the height of the chair is interesting. From reading an astronaut’s memoir, I learned that NASA won’t accept would-be astronauts over 5’10”, I think. Does the army not have height requirements (minimum or maximum) for flying its helicopters?

There is actually an industry that values shorter people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading the NY Times article about the hearing, I don't know how anyone could think this was still a VIP transport in disguise. It is quite clear that it was a training/certification exercise that went very wrong.

People have said it was an internet rumor tho who knows what was happening around that same time to-from Langley.

The CIA doesn’t even HAVE a helipad at Langley.

But it may nearby?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty clear that this entire “investigation” has been structured in such a way to put all the blame on the female pilot.

Not on the two men flying the more maneuverable jet.

Not on the man sitting next to Lobach, either.



They’re trying to put the blame on her.




So predictable.

The jet cannot move out of the way easily. The helicopter can. What are you missing? There is zero to suggest that the airline guys did anything at all wrong. The blame seems to be on her to a major degree. Just the way it is.

How do you know how maneuverable they are/aren’t? Are you a pilot? If not, then shut your mansplaining mouth.

What we DO know is the two MEN flying the jet clearly weren’t paying attention and didn’t see the chopper.


Yet NO ONE is pointing out this inconvenient fact because they’re too busy blaming THE ONLY female anywhere in the chain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did people read the NYT article yesterday? I understand there were many things that went wrong that night, including understaffing in the tower, but why the hell was a pilot with inferior flying skills in the area that night? I was struck by the description of her lack of talent as a pilot. I’m sorry if that is hurtful to her family.

Can someone paste the relevant part, or post a link to the article?

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/us/politics/dc-plane-helicopter-crash.html

....That same week, Mr. Eaves, assigned to give her the annual flight exam, told his girlfriend that he feared Captain Lobach was unprepared for the flight, according to an N.T.S.B. interview document.
Captain Lobach, recalled the girlfriend, was described by Mr. Eaves as “not where she should be,” according to the document. It was the girlfriend’s impression, investigators said in the document, that Mr. Eaves “thought the other pilot was not grasping things they should have understood by that point in her flying career.”
Nonetheless, Mr. Eaves was professional and even jovial during the Jan. 29 flight, according to a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder.....

....He appeared to try to soothe Captain Lobach’s embarrassment over a directional mistake by joking that he was “all game” to blow by a town at low altitude but that they would have to make a “blood pact” not to discuss it with anyone later.
She appeared to have recognized the tongue-in-cheek suggestion, replying, “Nope, right.”
But the exam did not go smoothly.
More than an hour before the crash, during a portion of the flight with choppy winds, Mr. Eaves took the flight controls from her, according to the transcript.
At another point, when they were evidently practicing landing and other maneuvers on a rural airfield, she was forced to “go around” one landing area on short notice — a tactic that is often used when an aircraft cannot land safely, aviators told The Times. When Mr. Eaves asked her about the mistake, she blamed the height of her chair, according to the transcript.
She also erroneously turned left when she should have gone right to avoid winds, and turned northward toward Great Falls, Va., when she should have been heading south to return to the Army base, prompting Mr. Eaves to ask her where they were going, according to the transcript.
At one point, the transcript says, she described herself as “dizzy,” but quickly added that it was “not too bad.”

Little missteps might be relatively forgivable on a deserted airfield or at thousands of feet in elevation, where there is less traffic. But once the Black Hawk entered the Washington area’s airspace — known as Class B, the busiest grade — there was very little margin for error when problems emerged.

So it's the supervisor's fault because at that point, he should have taken over the controls.

Perhaps..it seems like Lobach was unwell, had directional dyslexia and Eaves was trying not to be/sound sexist. Still Eaves should not have allowed Lobach near DC airspace. Makes you wonder how many pilots fly under personal "unwell" conditions. With a big gulp asking did they rule out suicide/murder in this case?

Lobach’s comment about the height of the chair is interesting. From reading an astronaut’s memoir, I learned that NASA won’t accept would-be astronauts over 5’10”, I think. Does the army not have height requirements (minimum or maximum) for flying its helicopters?

There is actually an industry that values shorter people?

Yes. The Navy also likes shorties to fit in the subs better, and the Army for tanks and some other vehicles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading the NY Times article about the hearing, I don't know how anyone could think this was still a VIP transport in disguise. It is quite clear that it was a training/certification exercise that went very wrong.

People have said it was an internet rumor tho who knows what was happening around that same time to-from Langley.

The CIA doesn’t even HAVE a helipad at Langley.

But it may nearby?

Yes. It’s on the parking lot of the 7-11, next to the Truist bank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty clear that this entire “investigation” has been structured in such a way to put all the blame on the female pilot.

Not on the two men flying the more maneuverable jet.

Not on the man sitting next to Lobach, either.

They’re trying to put the blame on her.

So predictable.

Pilot was grossly incompetent the whole day and check ride. It’s all on the black box. And wet log book.

Disgusting.

If the pilot was that incompetent then he never should’ve been trusted to be giving Lobach the check ride in the first place.

Eaves allegedly told his GF/APartner he didn't think Lobach was ready. There is no record of him saying so, who knows. Whoever is above Eaves would know if Eaves was ready that day to give the check ride to Lobach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty clear that this entire “investigation” has been structured in such a way to put all the blame on the female pilot.

Not on the two men flying the more maneuverable jet.

Not on the man sitting next to Lobach, either.



They’re trying to put the blame on her.




So predictable.

The jet cannot move out of the way easily. The helicopter can. What are you missing? There is zero to suggest that the airline guys did anything at all wrong. The blame seems to be on her to a major degree. Just the way it is.

The jet was also exactly where ATC told it to be and was following procedure. Neither is true of the Helo. But I agree the Helo instructor has equal if not more responsibility as the more experienced pilot.

So? If I’m driving down the road and you pull out 10 feet in front of me, I’m still expected to be able to stop or avoid you. I can’t just crash into you and then throw my hands up and say it’s YOUR fault. I’ll still be charged with failure to avoid a collision.

The pilots didn’t even try to avoid the chopper.

[Anonymous]

Makes you wonder about the conditions of the pilots of the jet you fly in to that sunny getaway

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty clear that this entire “investigation” has been structured in such a way to put all the blame on the female pilot.

Not on the two men flying the more maneuverable jet.

Not on the man sitting next to Lobach, either.

They’re trying to put the blame on her.

So predictable.

Pilot was grossly incompetent the whole day and check ride. It’s all on the black box. And wet log book.

Disgusting.

If the pilot was that incompetent then he never should’ve been trusted to be giving Lobach the check ride in the first place.

Eaves allegedly told his GF/APartner he didn't think Lobach was ready. There is no record of him saying so, who knows. Whoever is above Eaves would know if Eaves was ready that day to give the check ride to Lobach.

He’s also a serial liar and adulterer. I’d say he has zero credibility at all.

Not too mention that as the instructor pilot, the crash is ultimately HIS responsibility, not Lobach’s. You can’t blame a student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Makes you wonder about the conditions of the pilots of the jet you fly in to that sunny getaway

They’re probably former college Lax Bros. like the two who failed to notice the GIANT HELICOPTER going at them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty clear that this entire “investigation” has been structured in such a way to put all the blame on the female pilot.

Not on the two men flying the more maneuverable jet.

Not on the man sitting next to Lobach, either.



They’re trying to put the blame on her.




So predictable.

The jet cannot move out of the way easily. The helicopter can. What are you missing? There is zero to suggest that the airline guys did anything at all wrong. The blame seems to be on her to a major degree. Just the way it is.

The jet was also exactly where ATC told it to be and was following procedure. Neither is true of the Helo. But I agree the Helo instructor has equal if not more responsibility as the more experienced pilot.

So? If I’m driving down the road and you pull out 10 feet in front of me, I’m still expected to be able to stop or avoid you. I can’t just crash into you and then throw my hands up and say it’s YOUR fault. I’ll still be charged with failure to avoid a collision.

The pilots didn’t even try to avoid the chopper.

Apples and oranges. The helo said they would stay out of the way, visual clearance.

[Anonymous]

Heart goes out to the families who lost theirs that day