Plane crash DCA?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

I think you’re underestimating the effects of being a narcissist.

I mean...he was almost assuredly not a "nice guy" in the sense he felt okay cheating on his wife and lying to both women about their future. But I don't think he guided the helicopter into the plane, no.

He clearly did. He let her fly the wrong height. He didn’t correct her when she was in the wrong path.

Our traffic control messages didn’t make it through and he didn’t instructor on what to do.

He was the guide and they hit a plane.

He guided her into the plane. She just followed instructions, which is what you do when you’re in the military no matter how stupid they are.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

His wife said he slept well, did not take drugs, and only drank on special occasions. She said she didn't keep alcohol in the house and there's no way he was drunk. The third pilot was observing I believe.

Did they gather any evidence from the phone or belongings of the third pilot who was on the helicopter observing? Was he higher ranked? Trying to understand if Eaves was guiding her incorrectly, or she was not understanding, or he tried to make advances for all we know, or she was under stress from something, and if that third person observed could have intervened. We won't know now I guess.

Staff srgt O'hara

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

His wife said he slept well, did not take drugs, and only drank on special occasions. She said she didn't keep alcohol in the house and there's no way he was drunk. The third pilot was observing I believe.

Did they gather any evidence from the phone or belongings of the third pilot who was on the helicopter observing? Was he higher ranked? Trying to understand if Eaves was guiding her incorrectly, or she was not understanding, or he tried to make advances for all we know, or she was under stress from something, and if that third person observed could have intervened. We won't know now I guess.

Staff srgt O'hara

was crew chief of the BH

[Anonymous]

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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.

Completely unrelated to the point of this article but I noticed they reference his girlfriend...but his obituaries mentioned his widow and children. So, is this just an error and they interviewed his wife? Or like...what cause the alternative is this is how his wife finds out he had an affair.

Really, man/woman? This is what you are wondering ?

Yes, that is my only concern in all of this. (I'll note that was sarcasm for you.)

I immediately said "Completely not the point of this article," implying I understand the point of the article. I am simply confused how this man's gf was interviewed by NTSB when he was married. Did the NTSB identify her as his gf incorrectly? I would hope that they are being very detail oriented in the investigation, so that wouldn't be great.

Are you suggesting that the report is a fabrication?

This is clearly going over your head, so let me be very, very explicit for you:

Misidentifying someone as a "girlfriend" when they were a wife is a mistake that may not seem like much, but to me, it indicates that the NTSB is not paying much attention to details. They interviewed this woman themselves, according to the report, so it's not like they're relying on information from a third party who got it wrong. It is concerning that in the investigation of a passenger jet crash they would get something so blatantly wrong.

It is not a misidentification. There was a wife and a (separate) girlfriend. It is in the next-of-kin interview transcripts in the NTSB docket.

There is also a suggestion that the female pilot might have had undiagnosed ADHD. Again, it is in the next-of-kin interviews.

Just read it. The wife says they were reconciling (they were separated because he'd had an affair in the past) and lived together part time, but the girlfriend says they had been together for two years and were moving to Alabama together after his assignment at Ft. Belvoir was up. Sounds like the wife was unaware of that.

Look, I know this is not the point but my god I feel bad for the wife.

So, Eaves was a scumbag and wife suffers, and both girlfriend( is this even the right term here) and wife got played?

Evidently. The wife said they were “reconciling” and had just bought a home together and the girlfriend said he was separated. I feel bad so bad for the wife. She thought things were getting better and the whole time was getting played.

+1

And now she cannot even call him out or get any sort of closure. I’m sure there is a lot of complex grief going on. I realize this isn’t the point of the investigation, but I feel bad for her in all of this too. And their kids. Even if they don’t know the details now I’m sure they’ll learn it all as adults.

Thankfully, the children were not his. They were her ex-husband's. She was a widow; she told investigators her ex died of Army-related cancer. This woman has had just a horrific life, and I feel terrible for her.

I hope her next act brings her closure and a man who treats her well. Her second marriage certainly didn't.

Oh wow, my heart goes out to her. And the kids. Even though Eaves wasn’t their dad that is a lot of loss (dad from cancer then cheating step dad from a horrible plane/helo crash) for anyone, especially children.

I hope he at least had some decent life insurance that all goes to her and she can have a brighter future ahead.

I sniffled reading this part of the interview:

Q. Okay. And the kids are how old?
A. Daughter's 17, son is 20.
Q. And they're yours?
A. Hm-hmm, from a previous marriage, who also passed away due to
Army-related cancer.
Q. Oh, so sorry.
A. It's Round 2.

"It's Round 2"...she seems so gracious and self-deprecating. Would definitely be her friend.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

I think you’re underestimating the effects of being a narcissist.

I mean...he was almost assuredly not a "nice guy" in the sense he felt okay cheating on his wife and lying to both women about their future. But I don't think he guided the helicopter into the plane, no.

He clearly did. He let her fly the wrong height. He didn’t correct her when she was in the wrong path.

Our traffic control messages didn’t make it through and he didn’t instructor on what to do.

He was the guide and they hit a plane.

He guided her into the plane. She just followed instructions, which is what you do when you’re in the military no matter how stupid they are.

Did you read it? He told her to “come down” and also to move left. Both of which would have saved their lives had she actually done them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

I think you’re underestimating the effects of being a narcissist.

I mean...he was almost assuredly not a "nice guy" in the sense he felt okay cheating on his wife and lying to both women about their future. But I don't think he guided the helicopter into the plane, no.

He clearly did. He let her fly the wrong height. He didn’t correct her when she was in the wrong path.

Our traffic control messages didn’t make it through and he didn’t instructor on what to do.

He was the guide and they hit a plane.

He guided her into the plane. She just followed instructions, which is what you do when you’re in the military no matter how stupid they are.

Did you read it? He told her to “come down” and also to move left. Both of which would have saved their lives had she actually done them.

Don’t bother. These bitter pieces of feces on this forum want to drag a good man’s memory through the dirt.

She couldn’t park her ego and listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

His wife said he slept well, did not take drugs, and only drank on special occasions. She said she didn't keep alcohol in the house and there's no way he was drunk. The third pilot was observing I believe.

There was no “third pilot” on the black hawk. We went over this hundreds of pages ago shortly after this happened. A crew chief is not a pilot.

[Anonymous]

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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?

“Directional dyslexia” would be a pilot DQ thing.
If you can’t fly based on NAVs and gauges only, get out of the cockpit.

Unbelievable.

She was in way over her skiis.

So sad for all the deaths.

You could say that about Eaves too.
-PP not the one saying people are focused on her b/c she is a woman

Yes he should have failed her on the spot and taken over.

I’m sure that’s rare but that’s what leaders have to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

His wife said he slept well, did not take drugs, and only drank on special occasions. She said she didn't keep alcohol in the house and there's no way he was drunk. The third pilot was observing I believe.

Did they gather any evidence from the phone or belongings of the third pilot who was on the helicopter observing? Was he higher ranked? Trying to understand if Eaves was guiding her incorrectly, or she was not understanding, or he tried to make advances for all we know, or she was under stress from something, and if that third person observed could have intervened. We won't know now I guess.

That’s all in the NYTimes summary and nTSB report.
He had to verbally correct her poor decisions multiple times before they got to the DCA area. Then there he told her several times to correct her location and altitude.

Her responses each time were immature and unprofessional: I’m dizzy, the chair is in the way, oh I’m dyslexic at flying.

W T F.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you reading this and thinking of blaming the pilot being evaluated-I am an attending physician and this is akin to letting a trainee go off the rails (during a surgery/in terms of a treatment plan, etc.)

I would consider myself (and literally my entire profession would consider me) at fault if I allowed an overtly incompetent trainee to kill patient/s. I have to assume it’s similar in aviation.

This. I work at a hospital. We always tell new attendees during orientation, everyone makes mistakes. You will not be liable for what is a genuine mistake. Let's work together to PREVENT mistakes and then we talk about how (double checking everything, even if it seems silly, etc.)

But we would NOT allow a doctor to let a resident operate, and stand there while the resident was doing something tricky they clearly weren't ready for. THAT would be bad.

You both are confused and don’t know what you are taking about. This isn’t a “resident and attending” situation. The pilot has not in training. She had already completed flight school and all the necessary training. This was an annual training exercise that all the pilots in their unit had to do annually and rotate who is evaluating and who is the one being evaluated.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

His wife said he slept well, did not take drugs, and only drank on special occasions. She said she didn't keep alcohol in the house and there's no way he was drunk. The third pilot was observing I believe.

Did they gather any evidence from the phone or belongings of the third pilot who was on the helicopter observing? Was he higher ranked? Trying to understand if Eaves was guiding her incorrectly, or she was not understanding, or he tried to make advances for all we know, or she was under stress from something, and if that third person observed could have intervened. We won't know now I guess.

That’s all in the NYTimes summary and nTSB report.
He had to verbally correct her poor decisions multiple times before they got to the DCA area. Then there he told her several times to correct her location and altitude.

Her responses each time were immature and unprofessional: I’m dizzy, the chair is in the way, oh I’m dyslexic at flying.

W T F.

Are you talking about Eaves?
Asking about O'Hara the chief crew who was on with Eaves and Lobach. Did, or did it seem O'Hara could have done "something"?? if he sensed friction between Eaves and Lobach (was this in the report and Times article too?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

His wife said he slept well, did not take drugs, and only drank on special occasions. She said she didn't keep alcohol in the house and there's no way he was drunk. The third pilot was observing I believe.

Did they gather any evidence from the phone or belongings of the third pilot who was on the helicopter observing? Was he higher ranked? Trying to understand if Eaves was guiding her incorrectly, or she was not understanding, or he tried to make advances for all we know, or she was under stress from something, and if that third person observed could have intervened. We won't know now I guess.

That’s all in the NYTimes summary and nTSB report.
He had to verbally correct her poor decisions multiple times before they got to the DCA area. Then there he told her several times to correct her location and altitude.

Her responses each time were immature and unprofessional: I’m dizzy, the chair is in the way, oh I’m dyslexic at flying.

W T F.

So she was being facetious while being evaluated?

The wife and affair partner perhaps did not know if and how much stressed/depressed Eaves was. Nor does it seem anyone on Lobach's side if that was looked into

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that said it was the fault of the air traffic control man who was doing two jobs and did not confirm things with the helicopter pilot. Why isn't anyone talking about that? Is it because he is a white male? He admitted it.

Good for you, now read the nTSB report recently released in full. To get real facts and the whole picture. This was a nightmare unskilled pilot and error-riddled ride.

It’s really mystifying why after so many mistakes he left her in control in probably the most dangerous air space in the country. I don’t know if the rank thing makes a difference…is it more awkward to do that to someone that outranks you? There were lots of things that went wrong that day but his failure to take controls for the DCA cross over seems like one of them.
But no one should have ever allowed such an insanely dangerous aviation intersection.

Have you ever told a woman, "No."?

Of course, yes.

This is clearly misogynistic, narcissistic, instructor, who literally guided his helicopter into a plane.

Was he under the influence of anything? Sleep deprived? Which is just as bad as under an influence. Were either of them suicidal? Did he think of Lobach as more than his colleague? What was the third pilot doing if on that heli?

His wife said he slept well, did not take drugs, and only drank on special occasions. She said she didn't keep alcohol in the house and there's no way he was drunk. The third pilot was observing I believe.

Did they gather any evidence from the phone or belongings of the third pilot who was on the helicopter observing? Was he higher ranked? Trying to understand if Eaves was guiding her incorrectly, or she was not understanding, or he tried to make advances for all we know, or she was under stress from something, and if that third person observed could have intervened. We won't know now I guess.

That’s all in the NYTimes summary and nTSB report.
He had to verbally correct her poor decisions multiple times before they got to the DCA area. Then there he told her several times to correct her location and altitude.

Her responses each time were immature and unprofessional: I’m dizzy, the chair is in the way, oh I’m dyslexic at flying.

W T F.

So she was being facetious while being evaluated?

The wife and affair partner perhaps did not know if and how much stressed/depressed Eaves was. Nor does it seem anyone on Lobach's side if that was looked into

Did they look at health records if either were taking medications and for what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Completely unrelated to the point of this article but I noticed they reference his girlfriend...but his obituaries mentioned his widow and children. So, is this just an error and they interviewed his wife? Or like...what cause the alternative is this is how his wife finds out he had an affair.

Really, man/woman? This is what you are wondering ?

Yes, that is my only concern in all of this. (I'll note that was sarcasm for you.)

I immediately said "Completely not the point of this article," implying I understand the point of the article. I am simply confused how this man's gf was interviewed by NTSB when he was married. Did the NTSB identify her as his gf incorrectly? I would hope that they are being very detail oriented in the investigation, so that wouldn't be great.

Are you suggesting that the report is a fabrication?

This is clearly going over your head, so let me be very, very explicit for you:

Misidentifying someone as a "girlfriend" when they were a wife is a mistake that may not seem like much, but to me, it indicates that the NTSB is not paying much attention to details. They interviewed this woman themselves, according to the report, so it's not like they're relying on information from a third party who got it wrong. It is concerning that in the investigation of a passenger jet crash they would get something so blatantly wrong.

It is not a misidentification. There was a wife and a (separate) girlfriend. It is in the next-of-kin interview transcripts in the NTSB docket.

There is also a suggestion that the female pilot might have had undiagnosed ADHD. Again, it is in the next-of-kin interviews.

Just read it. The wife says they were reconciling (they were separated because he'd had an affair in the past) and lived together part time, but the girlfriend says they had been together for two years and were moving to Alabama together after his assignment at Ft. Belvoir was up. Sounds like the wife was unaware of that.

Look, I know this is not the point but my god I feel bad for the wife.

So, Eaves was a scumbag and wife suffers, and both girlfriend( is this even the right term here) and wife got played?

Evidently. The wife said they were “reconciling” and had just bought a home together and the girlfriend said he was separated. I feel bad so bad for the wife. She thought things were getting better and the whole time was getting played.

+1

And now she cannot even call him out or get any sort of closure. I’m sure there is a lot of complex grief going on. I realize this isn’t the point of the investigation, but I feel bad for her in all of this too. And their kids. Even if they don’t know the details now I’m sure they’ll learn it all as adults.

Thankfully, the children were not his. They were her ex-husband's. She was a widow; she told investigators her ex died of Army-related cancer. This woman has had just a horrific life, and I feel terrible for her.

I hope her next act brings her closure and a man who treats her well. Her second marriage certainly didn't.

Oh wow, my heart goes out to her. And the kids. Even though Eaves wasn’t their dad that is a lot of loss (dad from cancer then cheating step dad from a horrible plane/helo crash) for anyone, especially children.

I hope he at least had some decent life insurance that all goes to her and she can have a brighter future ahead.

So one of the many lessons here is to live your life in a way that doesn’t leave the tawdry details of your double life to come out after your passing.

[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.

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.

I may not be a pilot, but you are definitely batshot crazy.

The only woman killed people. We aren’t infallible. Deal with it.