A Routine Landing Turned Into a Fatal Airport Collision in Seconds
Definitely not what the doctor ordered. What sounds at first like an almost impossible airport accident turned deadly in a matter of seconds when a small plane attempting to land collided with a hovering Pennsylvania State Police helicopter in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
The crash happened at approximately 6:58 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, at Carlisle Airport in South Middleton Township. According to Pennsylvania State Police, a Cessna 150 was attempting to land when, for reasons investigators have not yet determined, it veered off the north side of the runway and struck the rear of a Bell 407GX police helicopter hovering several feet above a grassy area north of the runway.
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The cause of the Carlisle collision remains under investigation. For pilots and aviation enthusiasts, preparedness and clear cockpit organization matter.
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The Cessna’s pilot and sole occupant was Dr. Paul William Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey, an emergency medicine physician with Penn State Health. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cumberland County Coroner’s Office.
Sokoloski had decades of experience in emergency medicine and was also an experienced aviator. FAA records cited in local reporting showed he had held a commercial pilot certificate since 2010 and became a certified flight instructor earlier in 2026.
The two Pennsylvania State Police crew members aboard the helicopter — Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills — were airlifted to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Corman was later released, while Mills remained hospitalized in stable condition as of the state’s latest update.
Officials said the helicopter crew was conducting a routine training exercise when the collision occurred. Because the Bell was hovering only several feet above the ground and was struck from behind, investigators said its crew would not have been able to see the approaching Cessna at the moment of impact.
Watch the Carlisle Airport Plane and Police Helicopter Collision Footage
Surveillance footage captured the Cessna veering from its landing path and striking the hovering police helicopter near the runway.
The footage is startling because of how quickly the approach changes. The plane can be seen moving toward the airport before abruptly departing from its expected path and colliding with the helicopter. The impact sent debris across the area, while the helicopter lost major components before coming down on its side.
The airport does not have an air traffic control tower, meaning pilots operating there coordinate over a shared radio frequency. Investigators have said the two aircraft were aware of one another before the crash, but they have not determined why the Cessna suddenly veered toward the helicopter.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and Pennsylvania State Police. Investigators have recovered intact data cards from both aircraft and are examining the wreckage, flight information, communications and the possibility of a mechanical problem. Witnesses also reported seeing Sokoloski working on the plane earlier that day, but officials have not established whether that had anything to do with the crash.
In other words: the video may show what happened, but the biggest question — why — is still very much unanswered.
More Video From the Carlisle Airport Cessna and Helicopter Crash
The original INYIM post also included the YouTube video below as additional coverage of the August 19 collision.
Sources: Pennsylvania State Police; Penn State Health; Associated Press.
