NTSB Says Marine One Calls Failed Before Washington Airspace Incident

The NTSB's preliminary report says Marine One's first call to Reagan National Airport's tower was not received and its second was broken before an August 4 loss-of-separation incident with an Envoy Air flight. The FAA estimated the aircraft came within 0.82 nautical miles laterally and 700 feet vertically, while the NTSB continues reviewing surveillance data. No one was injured and both flights continued. The report says radio coverage from the Ellipse was inadequate, and FAA technicians later moved the helicopter-frequency equipment to the top of the airport control tower.