Pilot Killed After Cessna Strikes Police Helicopter During Training at Carlisle Airport

What Happened

A small plane struck a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter during a training exercise at Carlisle Regional Airport on Wednesday evening. The collision happened around 6:52 p.m. near a runway at the airport in Cumberland County. The pilot of the Cessna 150 was killed. Both troopers aboard the helicopter survived with minor injuries.

How the Crash Unfolded

State Police Acting Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens described the sequence of events at a press conference held at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The Bell 407 helicopter was hovering several feet off the ground on a grassy area next to the runway during a routine training exercise. The Cessna came down the runway, veered to the right, and struck the helicopter from behind.
Bivens said the crash was extremely violent. The plane broke apart into many pieces. Investigators are still working to confirm whether the pilot was the only person on board.
Carlisle Regional Airport has a single 4,000-foot runway and no air traffic control tower. Pilots use a common radio frequency to communicate their positions.

Two Troopers Escape

Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills were both trapped inside the helicopter after the collision. Corman forced his way through a window, then pulled Mills out with him. Both men were taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Doctors at the hospital said their injuries were minor. One trooper was expected to be discharged the same night. The other was awaiting additional evaluation.

Governor Shapiro Responds

Governor Josh Shapiro appeared at the hospital press conference alongside Bivens and trauma unit director Dr. Ashley Ludwig. He said tonight could have been much more tragic for the state police family. He praised the response from police, emergency crews, and hospital staff. He said he had been in contact with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who helped get an FAA team to the scene quickly.

Investigation Now Underway

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating. The NTSB said the wreckage will be documented and moved to a secure facility for further examination. A preliminary report is expected within the next 24 hours. State police said investigators have already secured video footage and photographs from the scene that may help reconstruct how the collision occurred.
The crash comes less than two years after a US Army Blackhawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet collided above Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing 67 people in January 2025. That disaster prompted increased scrutiny of shared airspace between helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft at airports across the country.
Source: CNN, 6ABC Philadelphia, FOX43, Local21 News, The Epoch Times, WRAL