The Potomac River at the site where the plane crashed is about 8 feet deep. The crash site is described as having waist-deep water and icy conditions, which made rescue and recovery efforts difficult and dangerous. The river's average depth varies, but near this incident area, it is relatively shallow compared to deeper parts of the river, which can reach over 100 feet in other locations. This depth information pertains directly to the location of the recent midair collision of a regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where the plane was found inverted in about 8 feet of water in the Potomac River.