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Cessna 150 collides with Pennsylvania State Police helicopter near Carlisle Airport, killing pilot
A Cessna 150 crashed into a police Bell 407 helicopter hovering beside Carlisle Airport runway, killing the pilot and injuring two officers during a training exercise.
The gist
A Cessna's collision with a hovering police helicopter near Carlisle Airport tragically killed the pilot and injured two officers.
Continuing coverage
All Cessna 150 →A fatal midair collision occurred around 18:52 local time on August 19, 2026, at Carlisle Airport in Pennsylvania, involving a Cessna 150 and a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter. The Cessna, piloted by 57-year-old Paul Sokoloski of Hershey, was attempting to land on Runway 28 when it struck the hovering helicopter from behind. The impact caused both aircraft to crash into the ground amid a cloud of debris, with Sokoloski succumbing to fatal injuries.
Paul Sokoloski was the sole occupant of the Cessna 150. He was an emergency medicine physician associated with Penn State Health and worked across several emergency departments including Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, Holy Spirit Medical Center, and Lancaster Medical Center. His sudden death marks a tragic loss for the medical and aviation communities alike.
The Pennsylvania State Police helicopter was engaged in a routine training exercise at the time of the collision. Both officers aboard, Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, survived despite significant damage to their aircraft. The helicopter's rotor blades and tail boom were torn off in the crash, causing the aircraft to roll onto its side and partially onto its roof, trapping both troopers inside before escape.
Corporal Corman managed to push out a window and assisted Trooper Mills in evacuating the overturned helicopter. Both were transported to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with minor injuries and were reported in stable condition. Acting Commissioner George Bivens described the crash as very violent and noted the extensive damage to the Cessna, which was fragmented into numerous pieces.
The circumstances around the accident suggest the Cessna approached closely from behind the helicopter while aligned with the runway, then veered sharply to the right just before impact. The police commissioner indicated the helicopter pilots would likely not have seen the Cessna approaching, given their position and focus on the hovering exercise.
Carlisle Airport is an uncontrolled airfield lacking an air traffic control tower, which adds complexity to coordinating aircraft operations. One investigative avenue includes evaluating the effect of the helicopter’s rotor wash or wake turbulence on the small Cessna aircraft. FAA guidance warns of high-velocity outwash vortices generated by hovering helicopters, advocating for small aircraft to maintain distance from these turbulent zones.
Video footage posted online captures the Cessna’s right wing dropping prior to the collision. The cause for the last-moment sharp right turn has not yet been determined, and investigators are considering factors such as visibility, aircraft spacing, radio communications, and whether an attempt to avoid collision occurred at the last moment.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the multi-agency investigation with support from the FAA and Pennsylvania State Police. At this stage, no definitive cause has been identified, and the probe aims to clarify how two aircraft operating in close proximity during routine operations collided with fatal consequences.
Frequently asked questions
- Who was the pilot of the Cessna involved in the crash?
- The pilot was Paul Sokoloski, a 57-year-old emergency medicine physician from Hershey, Pennsylvania.
- What were the conditions of the police helicopter crew following the collision?
- Both officers, Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, survived with minor injuries and were in stable condition at a local medical center.
- What are potential factors being considered by investigators in the collision?
- Investigators are examining helicopter rotor wash effects, aircraft proximity, visibility, radio communications, and possible last-second maneuvers to explain why the Cessna veered sharply before impact.
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