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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?

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.

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

How old was he?

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about the jet pilots? Hello?

The jet pilots were where they were instructed to be and as soon as one of them noticed the Blackhawk they made every effort to avoid it. I don't see them as guilty parties here, and I am a misandrist.

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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.

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?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lobach was the pilot. She was annoyed a man was telling her what to do.

Even though he was right and she was wrong.

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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.

No one thinks this. He was a pig, and probably a narcissist given the affairs, but we have no reason to believe he guided the helicopter into a plane.

All anyone is saying is that it wasn't a student trainee's fault. She was a student. He was the instructor. He should've taken the controls as soon as they entered DCA airspace.

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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.

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.

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?

Anonymous wrote:What about the jet pilots? Hello?

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.