A federal investigation is underway following a tragic midair collision at Carlisle Airport in Pennsylvania on Wednesday evening (August 19). The crash involved a small Cessna 150 plane and a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, resulting in the death of the plane's pilot, Dr. Paul Sokoloski, 57, from Hershey, Pennsylvania. The two troopers aboard the helicopter, Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, sustained injuries but are expected to recover.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation. According to CBS 21, the Cessna was attempting to land when it veered off the north side of the runway and collided with the hovering helicopter. The helicopter was conducting a training exercise at the time of the collision.
NTSB investigator Aaron McCarter described the flight path of the Cessna as unusual, noting that it increased its pitch and performed a severe nose-up maneuver before hitting the helicopter. The cause of this flight pattern remains unknown, but both aircraft were reportedly in communication prior to the crash.
The Carlisle airport is uncontrolled, meaning there is no air traffic control tower on site. Aircraft coordinate their movements using a shared frequency. Witnesses reported that the Cessna pilot had been performing maintenance on the plane before the crash. The NTSB plans to review maintenance records, flight data, and witness statements as part of their investigation.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized that the incident could have been much worse and expressed relief over the troopers' expected recovery. A preliminary report from the NTSB is expected within the next 30 days.