On Wednesday evening, just before 7 p.m., a tragic midair collision occurred at Carlisle Regional Airport in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. A small Cessna 150 aircraft, piloted by 57‑year‑old Dr. Paul Sokoloski of Hershey, struck a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter that was conducting a training exercise.
Details of the crash
State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens briefed reporters, noting that the helicopter was performing a “hover taxi” a few feet off the ground when the Cessla entered the runway area. According to NTSB investigator‑in‑charge Aaron McCarter, the Cessna was flying level, then suddenly pitched up before turning and colliding with the rear of the helicopter.
The impact was described as “very violent.” The helicopter lost its rotor blades before crashing to the ground and rolling onto its side. The Cessna broke into multiple pieces a short distance away. Both a state police colonel and a trooper were initially trapped in the wreckage but managed to escape without serious injury.
Victim identified
Officials identified the deceased pilot as Dr. Paul Sokoloski, a valued member of the emergency medicine team at Penn State Health. In addition to his medical career, Sokoloski was a certified flight instructor. Penn State Health released a statement honoring his contributions to the hospital and the community.
Investigation underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will release an update on its investigation on Friday. Investigators are reviewing newly released video that captures the moment of impact, as well as maintenance records for the Cessna. McCarter said the pilot had performed maintenance on the aircraft the day before the crash, but he did not speculate that this was a factor.
Investigators will examine three primary elements: the man, the machine, and the environment. Witnesses reported that the Cessna pilot had flown south for several hours earlier in the day for training before returning to Carlisle. The airport is uncontrolled, meaning pilots coordinate movements on a shared radio frequency rather than through an air traffic control tower.
Community response
Local residents expressed shock and sympathy for the families of those involved. The crash underscores the risks faced by both civilian pilots and law‑enforcement aviators who operate in shared airspace, especially at uncontrolled fields.
The NTSB’s forthcoming report will aim to determine why the two aircraft were on intersecting paths and whether any procedural changes are needed to improve safety at similar airports.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
