A small plane piloted by Dr. Paul Sokoloski, a respected emergency medicine physician, crashed into a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter during a landing attempt at Carlisle Regional Airport, killing the doctor and injuring two troopers. The collision occurred on Wednesday evening (August 19), when Sokoloski’s Cessna 150 struck the rear of a hovering Bell 407 helicopter as both aircraft were near the runway.

Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey, was the sole occupant of the plane and died at the scene. The two injured troopers inside the helicopter, identified as Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, sustained minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro noted during a news conference that the situation "could have been much worse," praising the quick actions of the officers involved.

Officials said the police helicopter was conducting a training exercise and performing a "hover taxi" just above the ground when the Cessna approached from behind and suddenly veered, colliding with the helicopter’s tail rotor. The Cessna broke into multiple pieces after crashing, while the helicopter lost its blades and rolled onto its side. Both troopers were briefly trapped but managed to escape with only minor injuries.

The Carlisle airport does not have a control tower, so pilots communicate over a shared frequency. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said there is "strong evidence" the Cessna pilot was aware of the helicopter’s location and that the two aircraft had communicated beforehand. However, the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and authorities are looking into pilot actions, aircraft maintenance, and environmental factors.

Sokoloski was a certified flight instructor, commercial pilot, and assistant professor at Penn State College of Medicine. Penn State Health described him as a "valued member of our emergency medicine team" and expressed condolences to his family and colleagues.

The NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration continue to investigate the incident to determine the exact cause.

Jeff K