(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)

(CARLISLE, PA-AP) An airplane pilot died Wednesday after a violent collision with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter near a runway at a small airport, but both state troopers aboard the helicopter survived, authorities said.

The plane was coming down on the runway and veered into the helicopter that was near the ground, Lt. Col. George Bivens, the state’s acting police commissioner, said during a news conference. The FAA and NTSB called it a midair collision but state police didn’t clarify if the plane was off the ground.

“When I say it was a very violent crash, that plane was cut into a lot of pieces,” he said, explaining that part of the investigation will be making sure the pilot was the only person on board. He said the helicopter lost its blades and tail boom and crashed onto its side.

The crash at the small airport in Carlisle, about 110 miles (170 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia, involved the Bell 407 helicopter and the Cessna 150, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Cessna is a two-seat aircraft that is typically used as a trainer aircraft, according to Bivens.

Both of the pilots in the helicopter were trapped until one pushed out a window and helped the other out through it, said Bivens. The pilots, who are from the police’s elite aviation unit and had been performing a training exercise, are stable.

“Tonight could’ve been much worse,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro. “Tonight could’ve been much more tragic for our state police family.”

Officials are not releasing information about the person who died in the crash until the person’s next of kin are informed.

Photos and video on social media showed a helicopter on its side near aircraft debris in a field and a line of emergency vehicles near Carlisle.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he’s been in touch with the governor.

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that lane restrictions on Interstate 79 and I-376 (Parkway West) in Robinson and Kennedy townships in Allegheny County will occur today, weather permitting. 

From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., lane restrictions will occur to allow crews to conduct guide rail, attenuator, and cable barrier repair work in these following locations: 

• Northbound I-79 between the I-376 Airport/Pittsburgh (Exit 59 A/B) interchange and just north of the Route 60 Moon Run/Crafton (Exit 60 A/B) interchange 

• The westbound I-376 off-ramp to southbound I-79 toward Washington (Exit 64A) where the two lanes merge 

If inclement weather occurs today, tomorrow will be used as a make-up date. 

(File Photo of the Beaver Falls Senior High School)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) A Beaver Falls High School teacher is out on bail and is waiting for a preliminary hearing on charges that she allegedly contacted a male student in her class multiple times this summer because of an interest in starting a sexual relationship with him.

The Patterson Township Police Department filed charges against twenty-four-year-old Sarah Jo Massa of Butler on August 12th, which included third-degree felony charges of one count each of unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors with sexual contact, corruption of minors by a defendant age 18 or above and criminal use of a communication facility and one misdemeanor charge of corruption of minors.

Massa was removed from the faculty and staff directory at the Big Beaver Falls Area School District website.

However, before that removal, she was on the district website teacher directory on Friday morning as an English teacher.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Patterson Township Police, Massa is said to have sent over 3,711 messages to the 16-year-old boy over a two-week period in June.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 1st.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Beaver Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Beaver Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Beaver Falls will host a free community Autumn Fest and car show, rain or shine, on September 24th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The activities at this event are for people of all ages and there will be a car show, live entertainment from the Honky Tonk Heroes, a Chinese auction, carnival games and fall crafts.

There will also be seasonal food and refreshments, and attendees will receive a ticket to enter the free Beaver Valley Cozy Campfire night raffle. 

All proceeds will go towards the Christmas celebration for the residents of the healthcare center.

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) A controversial topic was discussed at yesterday’s Beaver County Commissioners’ work session at the County Courthouse.

The biggest one was the development of plans from Las Vegas, Nevada headquartered company Switch to build a 600,000 square-foot data center complex that will have three buildings and would span an area roughly equivalent to 300 football fields on the 400-acre former Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum.

Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles provided an update that Switch has submitted an application to the county planning commission for their review.

The recommendations from Switch are now being forwarded to Big Beaver to go over the process for this proposed data center through the company’s approval.

According to Fedeles, “there is nothing that this board (Board of Commissioners) has any oversight on that particular development aside from what the planning commission did yesterday.

Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed an executive order that he confirms will give more control and oversight to municipalities when it comes to development of data centers, and it requires that companies need to pay for their own energy, minimize air pollution, noise and water usage, as well as hire local workers and give back to the communities in benefit agreements which are negotiated. 

Fedeles also mentioned that the biggest question in terms of this planned data center is the usage of water and electricity, which neighbors in Big Beaver are concerned about.

Fedeles noted that those developments are not “something that under the municipal planning code that the county planning agency looks at whenever they’re doing their review” for the local municipality.

Commissioner Tony Amadio and Commisisoner Jack Manning also visited the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Secretary’s visit to Beaver County at the completion of her two year tour, where she honored Dr. Neil Capetta, a long-time drug advocate in the county.

Commissioner Amadio also got a tour update and swore in three trustees, two old ones and one new one, at the Aviation Center at the Community College of Beaver County.

Commissioner Manning also gave an update on the aviation sciences building at the county airport. When that facility is completed, almost 28,000 square feet of new classroom offices will be in place for the airport and for CCBC.

SCOTT TADY

PITTSBURGH — Point Park University invites families and all fun-seekers to attend 2026-27 performances at the university’s Pittsburgh Playhouse.

From concerts, like the River City Brass on Sept. 18, to the Steel City Emerging Film Festival on Sept. 11-12, to three separate dance shows in October, the Playhouse has plenty to offer.

Located at 350 Forbes Ave., in downtown Pittsburgh, the Playhouse presents its third annual Fall Fest, a free community street festival with food, crafts and games, on Oct. 23 to Nov. 1. Visitors can grab a bite or a drink, paint a pumpkin and win prizes at this fun-filled fall outing perfect for all ages. Also included is  the Boo’s Halloween House Party — a frightfully fun family musical filled with music, dancing, laughter and Halloween thrills for little monsters, grown-up ghouls, and everyone in between.

Center Township native Kiesha Lalama, dean of Point Park’s School of Theatre, Film and Animation, and executive producer of the Pittsburgh Playhouse, discussed upcoming public events at the downtown university as a phone-in guest Wednesday on the Beaver County Radio Morning Show.

Also discussing curriculum, including  a new three-year accelerated degree at Point Park, Lalama’s interview can be heard here:

 

Lalama has created more than 50 works for stage, film, and television, and is instrumental in Point Park hosting a world premiere Nov. 13 – 22 of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,”  a high-energy musical inspired by the beloved 1985 film, featuring iconic ‘80s hits, unforgettable dance, humor, heart and nonstop fun.

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(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Baden, PA) The Baden Fre Department was dispatched yesterday at approximately 8:53 P.M. for a reported building fire at a multifamily apartment building.  

The caller reported that there was smoke on the third floor. 

Even though there was no smoke that was visible from the exterior, there was a strong odor that smelled like something was burning. 

Smoke also pushed from underneath the door of one of the apartment units.

The fire was extinguished and there were no reported injuries.  

(File Photo of Quaker Valley High School)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Leetsdlae, PA) Quaker Valley High School was ranked as the Number 9 school in the top 10 Pittsburgh-area high schools in U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of the best high schools in the country. 

The rankings were released yesterday and they are based on six factors to find the best public high schools across the United States.

These factors included college readiness, graduation rate and state assessment performance.

These schools were located in all 50 states and nearly 18,000 schools were included in the list.

Quaker Valley High School was ranked as No. 737 nationally on this list.