Investigators probe midair crash as landing plane hits hovering police helicopter

Investigators are probing the cause of a midair collision between a small plane and a hovering police helicopter at a rural Pennsylvania airport, resulting in the death of the plane's pilot and injuries to two state troopers. The National Transportation Safety Board's Aaron McCarter announced on Thursday that there is currently no clear explanation for the crash. He emphasized that the investigation aims to understand what led to the fatal incident.

The crash occurred at the small Carlisle airport, located approximately 110 miles northwest of Philadelphia. It involved a Bell 407 helicopter and a Cessna 150, both engaged in a training exercise. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna was attempting to land when it veered off course and struck the rear of the hovering police helicopter. The Cessna pilot, Paul William Sokoloski, 57, lost his life, while both aircraft crashed to the ground.

McCarter revealed that both pilots were flight instructors. He noted that the airport lacked a control tower but that communication between the two flight crews was established over a common frequency. While investigators have strong evidence that the Cessna pilot was aware of the hovering helicopter, they have yet to determine whether the helicopter's visibility may have been obstructed for the pilot. McCarter stated that determining whether the helicopter's visibility was an issue is still under investigation.

The Cessna pilot had recently performed maintenance on the aircraft before the flight, but investigators are still determining if a mechanical issue played a role in the crash. McCarter emphasized that the Cessna's approach and sudden turn were unusual, and he expressed uncertainty about whether either pilot was at fault. He reiterated that they are in the early stages of the investigation and have not yet assigned blame to any individual.

The plane's pilot, Paul William Sokoloski, was identified by the Cumberland County Coroner's Office. He was the sole occupant of the Cessna. The police helicopter, piloted by Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, sustained significant damage before crashing on its side. Both troopers were trapped until one of them pushed out a window and assisted the other in escaping.

Cpl. Corman was airlifted to a hospital and later released, while Trooper Mills remained hospitalized with a favorable prognosis, as reported by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.