Data cards retrieved from plane and helicopter that collided in deadly Pennsylvania airport crash

Federal investigators have recovered intact data cards from a state police helicopter and Cessna plane that collided at Carlisle airport in central Pennsylvania, killing the plane's pilot. National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge Aaron McCarter praised the recovery of the data cards as "very good news from a data standpoint" during a media briefing on Friday.

The collision occurred during takeoff on Wednesday night, with the Cessna veering to the side and colliding with the rear of the hovering helicopter, which was 30 to 50 feet away from the runway. The Cessna pilot was killed, while two people inside the helicopter sustained injuries. Neither aircraft was required to have a cockpit voice recorder, as they are not standard in smaller planes.

Investigators will review the data cards over the weekend to determine the cause of the accident, which involved a Bell 407 helicopter and a Cessna 150.