Overview
- A Cessna 150 collided with a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 near Carlisle Regional Airport, killing the Cessna pilot who was later identified as Paul Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey.
- Two state police aviators, Corporal Pilot Bryce Corman and Trooper Pilot Jason Mills, were trapped in the damaged helicopter, escaped with help from Corman, were treated at Hershey Medical Center and are expected to recover.
- State officials say the helicopter was conducting a low hover training exercise beside the runway when the approaching Cessna veered and struck the helicopter’s tail and main rotors causing a violent crash.
- The collision occurred Wednesday evening at Carlisle Regional Airport and investigators have secured wreckage, video and radio transmissions for analysis.
- The NTSB will lead the investigation with FAA assistance to review communications on the airport’s common traffic frequency and other evidence, a process that could take months to years and may prompt scrutiny of helicopter training near non‑towered runways.