Aircraft pilot A small airplane and a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter collided in midair Wednesday evening near Carlisle Regional Airport, killing the airplane’s pilot and injuring two state troopers aboard the helicopter.
The crash happened shortly before 7 p.m. at the airport in Cumberland County, southwest of Harrisburg. The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft involved were a Cessna 150 and a Bell 407 helicopter. The helicopter was conducting a training exercise at the time.
The pilot of the Cessna, believed to have been the aircraft’s only occupant, died in the crash. Authorities have not yet released the pilot’s name, pending notification of relatives.
How the collision happened
Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens said preliminary information indicates that the helicopter was hovering several feet above a grassy area alongside a runway during the training exercise.
The Cessna approached the airport from behind. Investigators say the plane suddenly veered sharply to the right and struck the helicopter from the rear.
Bivens described the resulting crash as “very violent.” The Cessna broke apart after hitting the helicopter, while the helicopter lost its blades before crashing onto its side.
The precise reason the airplane veered remains unknown.
Two troopers injured
The two people aboard the helicopter were Pennsylvania State Police aviation-unit members. Gov. Josh Shapiro identified them as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills.
Both were injured but were expected to recover, according to the governor. Emergency responders transported them for medical treatment following the crash.
The helicopter was left overturned at the crash scene, while debris from the Cessna was scattered nearby. Images from the scene showed a significant emergency response as investigators and first responders worked around the wreckage.
Investigation underway
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the collision.
Investigators are expected to examine the movements of both aircraft, communications, airport operations and the circumstances that led the Cessna to veer into the helicopter’s path.
Officials have emphasized that the initial description of the collision is preliminary and that investigators have not yet determined a cause.
The crash comes as authorities continue to examine aviation safety following a number of high-profile aircraft accidents in recent years.
A tragic night in Carlisle
The collision has drawn attention across Pennsylvania as investigators work to reconstruct the final moments before impact.
Gov. Shapiro said the incident could have been even more devastating and expressed concern for the family of the deceased pilot as well as the injured troopers and their families.
For now, the central questions remain unanswered: why the Cessna suddenly changed course, whether the two aircraft had any warning of the impending collision, and whether any other factors contributed to the crash.
The FAA and NTSB investigation is expected to provide a more detailed picture of what happened at Carlisle Regional Airport on Wednesday evening.
Source: 6abc
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