(File Photo: Source for Photo: (File Photo: Source for Photo: Authorities investigate a crash between a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and a small plane at the Carlisle airport in Carlisle, Pa. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Sean Simmers/The Patriot-News via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Carlisle, PA) An investigation continues into a crash that occurred at Carlisle Airport on Wednesday at approximately 6:58 P.M. in which a Cessna 150 single engine airplane and a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407GX helicopter collided in midair.

The helicopter hit the plane while it was hovering over a grassy area north of the runway at this airport and the pilot of the plane died as a result of this incident.

He has been identified as fifty-seven-year-old Paul Sokoloski of Hershey, and the Cumberland County Coroner’s Office pronounced him dead at the scene.

According to a report from WJAC and Penn State Health’s website, Sokoloski was an emergency medicine physician for Penn State Health.

Authorities believe that Sokoloski was the only person on the plane.

The Cessna 150 was trying to land and because of an unknown reason, it veered off of the north side of the runway and collided with the back of the helicopter, which was hovering in mid-air.

Two Pennsylvania State Police troopers were injured because of this incident, Corp. Bryce Corman and Tpr. Jason Mills.

The duo was piloting the helicopter and they were airlifted to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for medical treatment in Hershey. 

Corporal Corman has since been released from the hospital, while Trooper Mills remains hospitalized in stable condition. 

The PSP Troop H Major Case Team was activated to assist with the investigation that is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).