Two state police pilots survived the collision at Carlisle Regional Airport as federal investigators began examining what caused the aircraft to come together.
CARLISLE, Pa. — A 57-year-old pilot was killed and two Pennsylvania State Police troopers were injured after his small plane collided with a police helicopter during a training exercise at Carlisle Regional Airport on Wednesday evening, authorities said.
The Cumberland County Coroner’s Office identified the pilot Thursday as Paul Sokoloski of Hershey. He was pronounced dead at the scene after the Cessna 150 collided with a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 near a runway shortly before 7 p.m. Aug. 19. The two troopers aboard the helicopter survived and were taken to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Acting Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens said the helicopter crew had been conducting routine training at the airport beginning around 6:30 p.m. At about 6:52 p.m., the Bell 407 was hovering several feet above a grassy area beside a runway as the Cessna approached the airport. Bivens said the airplane veered sharply to the right for a reason that remains unknown and struck the helicopter from behind.
The collision damaged both aircraft and sent them to the ground. Authorities said the Cessna’s pilot was its sole occupant. The helicopter came to rest on its side and partly on its roof after losing major components in the impact. Both troopers were initially trapped inside before one pushed out a window and helped the other escape.
Gov. Josh Shapiro identified the injured troopers as Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, both members of the state police aviation unit. Medical officials said Wednesday night that both men had suffered minor injuries and were in stable condition. One was expected to be discharged while the other was being kept for observation.
Federal authorities initially described the incident as a midair collision. State police later said the helicopter was on or very near the ground when it was struck. Bivens said investigators will determine the precise positions of both aircraft and the sequence of events leading to the impact. Officials have not announced a cause.
Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Pilots use a shared radio frequency to communicate with each other while operating around the airport. Bivens said there had been communication on that frequency before the crash and that investigators would review those transmissions along with available video and photographs.
The Federal Aviation Administration responded to the scene Wednesday night, and National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrived afterward. The NTSB is leading the crash investigation with assistance from the FAA and state police. Investigators are expected to document the wreckage, examine the aircraft and review communications and other evidence as they work to determine why the collision occurred.
The Cumberland County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy for Sokoloski is scheduled for Aug. 25. Authorities have not released findings about what caused the Cessna to veer toward the helicopter, and the federal investigation remained active Thursday.
Author note: Last updated August 20, 2026.