Deadly Plane vs. Helicopter Crash at Carlisle Regional Airport: What We Know
A deadly Carlisle Regional Airport crash involving a small airplane and a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter has left one person dead and two state troopers injured, with federal investigators now working to determine exactly how the violent collision happened.
The crash occurred Wednesday evening, August 19, at Carlisle Airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. According to authorities, the aircraft involved were a Cessna 150 airplane and a Bell 407 helicopter operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens said the police helicopter crew had been conducting routine training exercises near a runway. The helicopter, which was based out of Harrisburg, was hovering several feet above a grassy area adjacent to the runway when the small plane approached.
Authorities said the Cessna was coming down along the runway when it unexpectedly veered sharply to the right. The airplane then struck the helicopter from behind. Bivens said the aircraft hit the helicopter’s rear tail rotor before moving into the main rotor, producing what he described as a “very violent crash.”
The force of the collision caused extensive damage to both aircraft. The Cessna broke apart into numerous pieces after hitting the ground, while the Bell 407 lost its blades and tail boom before crashing onto its side and partially rolling over.
The lone occupant of the Cessna did not survive the crash. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the pilot because officials were still working to notify the person’s next of kin. Investigators are also examining the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s approach and why it veered from its apparent path.
The two Pennsylvania State Police pilots aboard the helicopter survived the collision. They were identified as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, members of the department’s elite aviation unit.
Both troopers were initially trapped inside the damaged helicopter. According to officials, Corman managed to push out a window and helped Mills escape from the wreckage. The two were taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for treatment.
Medical officials said both troopers suffered minor injuries and were in stable condition. One was expected to be released from the hospital, while the other was expected to remain for additional treatment.
The crash prompted a significant emergency response at the airport, with police, firefighters and medical personnel rushing to the scene. Witnesses described hearing the impact, while photographs from the area showed the overturned helicopter and scattered aircraft debris near the runway.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro expressed relief that the two state police pilots survived while offering condolences to the family of the person killed. He said the incident could have resulted in an even greater loss of life.
The Carlisle Regional Airport crash is now the subject of a federal investigation. The FAA and NTSB are examining the collision, including the movements of both aircraft and the circumstances leading up to the impact. Officials have not yet reached a final conclusion about what caused the collision.
Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, flight paths, communications and other available evidence as they reconstruct the moments leading to the crash. Until that investigation is completed, authorities have cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions about responsibility.
For now, the confirmed toll remains one person dead and two Pennsylvania State Police troopers injured. The incident has also renewed attention on aviation safety at smaller airports, where general aviation aircraft and specialized helicopter operations can operate in close proximity.
More details are expected as the FAA and NTSB continue their investigation and authorities provide additional information about the victim and the circumstances surrounding the deadly collision.
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