Investigators Detail Cessna's Abnormal Flight Path Before Deadly Carlisle Crash

NTSB investigator-in-charge Aaron McCarter said Sokoloski had performed maintenance on his own aircraft the day before the crash, then flew several hours for training before returning to Carlisle.

The helicopter was hovering in a grassy area beside the runway, not on the runway itself, at the moment of impact. Both aircraft were in two-way radio contact beforehand, though the content of those transmissions remains unknown since Carlisle's common frequency is not recorded.

NTSB investigators recovered intact data cards from both aircraft. Video evidence shows the Cessna in an abnormal flight attitude before the collision — described as a "steep nose pushed up attitude, right-wing low," with the wings rocking before the plane veered off the runway and struck the helicopter.

The pilot has been identified as Dr. Paul Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey, an emergency medicine physician with Penn State Health.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating. The NTSB said the wreckage will be documented and moved to a secure facility, with a preliminary report expected within a day.

"Tonight could have been much worse," Shapiro said during a news conference. Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Pilots instead use a common traffic radio frequency, which investigators plan to review.

The two injured troopers were identified as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, both members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. Governor Shapiro confirmed both are expected to survive their injuries.

Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens said the helicopter was conducting a training exercise, hovering over a grass area adjacent to the runway, when the Cessna veered off course during landing and struck the back of the helicopter.

Officials have confirmed the pilot of the Cessna 150 was pronounced dead.

Per ABC 6, a Cessna 150 has been identified as the other aircraft involved.

A statement from Governor Shapiro confirmed the helicopter involved is a Pennsylvania State Police aircraft.

The helicopter appears to belong to State Police, per reports.

A coroner has been requested to the scene, according to a report from Penn Live.

Police said there are two patients who need care. Further details surrounding injuries and possible fatalities are unclear.

The airplane is "obliterated," according to personnel on scene.

Responders on scene reported that the helicopter is crashed in the grass.

"Trooper 3" was reportedly involved, per scanner audio.

A small plane has reportedly collided with a helicopter near Carlisle Airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, per unverified social media reports.

Incident reported at Carlisle Airport.

NTSB investigator-in-charge Aaron McCarter said Sokoloski had performed maintenance on his own aircraft the day before the crash, then flew several hours for training before returning to Carlisle.

The helicopter was hovering in a grassy area beside the runway, not on the runway itself, at the moment of impact. Both aircraft were in two-way radio contact beforehand, though the content of those transmissions remains unknown since Carlisle's common frequency is not recorded.

NTSB investigators recovered intact data cards from both aircraft. Video evidence shows the Cessna in an abnormal flight attitude before the collision — described as a "steep nose pushed up attitude, right-wing low," with the wings rocking before the plane veered off the runway and struck the helicopter.

The pilot has been identified as Dr. Paul Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey, an emergency medicine physician with Penn State Health.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating. The NTSB said the wreckage will be documented and moved to a secure facility, with a preliminary report expected within a day.

"Tonight could have been much worse," Shapiro said during a news conference. Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Pilots instead use a common traffic radio frequency, which investigators plan to review.

The two injured troopers were identified as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, both members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. Governor Shapiro confirmed both are expected to survive their injuries.

Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens said the helicopter was conducting a training exercise, hovering over a grass area adjacent to the runway, when the Cessna veered off course during landing and struck the back of the helicopter.

Officials have confirmed the pilot of the Cessna 150 was pronounced dead.

Per ABC 6, a Cessna 150 has been identified as the other aircraft involved.

A statement from Governor Shapiro confirmed the helicopter involved is a Pennsylvania State Police aircraft.

The helicopter appears to belong to State Police, per reports.

A coroner has been requested to the scene, according to a report from Penn Live.

Police said there are two patients who need care. Further details surrounding injuries and possible fatalities are unclear.

The airplane is "obliterated," according to personnel on scene.

Responders on scene reported that the helicopter is crashed in the grass.

"Trooper 3" was reportedly involved, per scanner audio.

A small plane has reportedly collided with a helicopter near Carlisle Airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, per unverified social media reports.

Incident reported at Carlisle Airport.

NTSB investigator-in-charge Aaron McCarter said Sokoloski had performed maintenance on his own aircraft the day before the crash, then flew several hours for training before returning to Carlisle.

The helicopter was hovering in a grassy area beside the runway, not on the runway itself, at the moment of impact. Both aircraft were in two-way radio contact beforehand, though the content of those transmissions remains unknown since Carlisle's common frequency is not recorded.

NTSB investigators recovered intact data cards from both aircraft. Video evidence shows the Cessna in an abnormal flight attitude before the collision — described as a "steep nose pushed up attitude, right-wing low," with the wings rocking before the plane veered off the runway and struck the helicopter.

The pilot has been identified as Dr. Paul Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey, an emergency medicine physician with Penn State Health.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating. The NTSB said the wreckage will be documented and moved to a secure facility, with a preliminary report expected within a day.

"Tonight could have been much worse," Shapiro said during a news conference. Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Pilots instead use a common traffic radio frequency, which investigators plan to review.

The two injured troopers were identified as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, both members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. Governor Shapiro confirmed both are expected to survive their injuries.

Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens said the helicopter was conducting a training exercise, hovering over a grass area adjacent to the runway, when the Cessna veered off course during landing and struck the back of the helicopter.

Officials have confirmed the pilot of the Cessna 150 was pronounced dead.

Per ABC 6, a Cessna 150 has been identified as the other aircraft involved.

A statement from Governor Shapiro confirmed the helicopter involved is a Pennsylvania State Police aircraft.

The helicopter appears to belong to State Police, per reports.

A coroner has been requested to the scene, according to a report from Penn Live.

Police said there are two patients who need care. Further details surrounding injuries and possible fatalities are unclear.

The airplane is "obliterated," according to personnel on scene.

Responders on scene reported that the helicopter is crashed in the grass.

"Trooper 3" was reportedly involved, per scanner audio.

A small plane has reportedly collided with a helicopter near Carlisle Airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, per unverified social media reports.

Incident reported at Carlisle Airport.

NTSB investigator-in-charge Aaron McCarter said Sokoloski had performed maintenance on his own aircraft the day before the crash, then flew several hours for training before returning to Carlisle.

The helicopter was hovering in a grassy area beside the runway, not on the runway itself, at the moment of impact. Both aircraft were in two-way radio contact beforehand, though the content of those transmissions remains unknown since Carlisle's common frequency is not recorded.

NTSB investigators recovered intact data cards from both aircraft. Video evidence shows the Cessna in an abnormal flight attitude before the collision — described as a "steep nose pushed up attitude, right-wing low," with the wings rocking before the plane veered off the runway and struck the helicopter.

The pilot has been identified as Dr. Paul Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey, an emergency medicine physician with Penn State Health.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating. The NTSB said the wreckage will be documented and moved to a secure facility, with a preliminary report expected within a day.

"Tonight could have been much worse," Shapiro said during a news conference. Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Pilots instead use a common traffic radio frequency, which investigators plan to review.

The two injured troopers were identified as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, both members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. Governor Shapiro confirmed both are expected to survive their injuries.

Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens said the helicopter was conducting a training exercise, hovering over a grass area adjacent to the runway, when the Cessna veered off course during landing and struck the back of the helicopter.

Officials have confirmed the pilot of the Cessna 150 was pronounced dead.

Per ABC 6, a Cessna 150 has been identified as the other aircraft involved.

A statement from Governor Shapiro confirmed the helicopter involved is a Pennsylvania State Police aircraft.

The helicopter appears to belong to State Police, per reports.

A coroner has been requested to the scene, according to a report from Penn Live.

Police said there are two patients who need care. Further details surrounding injuries and possible fatalities are unclear.

The airplane is "obliterated," according to personnel on scene.

Responders on scene reported that the helicopter is crashed in the grass.

"Trooper 3" was reportedly involved, per scanner audio.

A small plane has reportedly collided with a helicopter near Carlisle Airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, per unverified social media reports.

Incident reported at Carlisle Airport.

NTSB investigator-in-charge Aaron McCarter said Sokoloski had performed maintenance on his own aircraft the day before the crash, then flew several hours for training before returning to Carlisle.

The helicopter was hovering in a grassy area beside the runway, not on the runway itself, at the moment of impact. Both aircraft were in two-way radio contact beforehand, though the content of those transmissions remains unknown since Carlisle's common frequency is not recorded.

NTSB investigators recovered intact data cards from both aircraft. Video evidence shows the Cessna in an abnormal flight attitude before the collision — described as a "steep nose pushed up attitude, right-wing low," with the wings rocking before the plane veered off the runway and struck the helicopter.

The pilot has been identified as Dr. Paul Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey, an emergency medicine physician with Penn State Health.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating. The NTSB said the wreckage will be documented and moved to a secure facility, with a preliminary report expected within a day.

"Tonight could have been much worse," Shapiro said during a news conference. Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Pilots instead use a common traffic radio frequency, which investigators plan to review.

The two injured troopers were identified as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, both members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. Governor Shapiro confirmed both are expected to survive their injuries.

Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens said the helicopter was conducting a training exercise, hovering over a grass area adjacent to the runway, when the Cessna veered off course during landing and struck the back of the helicopter.

Officials have confirmed the pilot of the Cessna 150 was pronounced dead.

Per ABC 6, a Cessna 150 has been identified as the other aircraft involved.

A statement from Governor Shapiro confirmed the helicopter involved is a Pennsylvania State Police aircraft.

The helicopter appears to belong to State Police, per reports.

A coroner has been requested to the scene, according to a report from Penn Live.

Police said there are two patients who need care. Further details surrounding injuries and possible fatalities are unclear.

The airplane is "obliterated," according to personnel on scene.

Responders on scene reported that the helicopter is crashed in the grass.

"Trooper 3" was reportedly involved, per scanner audio.

A small plane has reportedly collided with a helicopter near Carlisle Airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, per unverified social media reports.

Incident reported at Carlisle Airport.