Tragic Accident in Southern Pennsylvania

A devastating midair collision between a small plane and a police helicopter occurred on Wednesday evening in southern Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of the Cessna’s pilot and injuring two state troopers.

The incident took place at approximately 7:50 p.m. EDT near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, which is located about 190 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the collision involved a Cessna 150 airplane and a Bell 407 helicopter.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, the helicopter was conducting routine training exercises at Carlisle Regional Airport when the collision occurred. The helicopter was hovering several feet off the ground over a grassy area adjacent to a runway when the two-seat Cessna, coming in for a landing, veered hard to the right for an unknown reason and struck the helicopter from behind.

As the pilots of the helicopter were unable to see the approaching plane, the collision resulted in a violent crash. The plane crashed into the ground and broke into pieces, while the helicopter inverted and crashed into the ground on its side and partially on its roof, initially trapping the two troopers inside.

Fortunately, the two state troopers, identified as Cpl. Bryce Corman and pilot Jason Mills, suffered only minor injuries in the crash. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the injured troopers at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and expressed his gratitude to the responders who were deployed to the scene and the medical staff at the hospital.

‘Tonight could have been much worse,’ Shapiro said. ‘Tonight could have been much more tragic for our state police family.’

Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police, provided more details about the incident. ‘The pilots would not have been able to ever see that airplane approaching them,’ he said. ‘It hit the rear tail rotor and went into the main rotor of the helicopter, resulting in a very violent crash.’

The pilot of the Cessna died in the crash, and authorities have not released their identity until next-of-kin notifications are completed. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.

The two state troopers, Cpl. Bryce Corman and pilot Jason Mills, were able to escape the helicopter with the assistance of Corman, who pushed out a window to assist Mills, who had more serious injuries and was bleeding heavily. Bivens praised the troopers’ quick thinking and actions, saying, ‘The corporal was in a position to push out a window and assist the trooper who he believed had some more serious injuries and had a lot of bleeding and was able to assist him out through that window and got both of them out of the helicopter.’

Investigation and Aftermath

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. The investigation will focus on determining the cause of the collision and identifying any contributing factors.

As the investigation continues, the families of the pilot and the injured troopers are seeking support and answers. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks and dangers faced by law enforcement officers and pilots every day.

The tragic accident in southern Pennsylvania has left the community in shock and mourning. It is a sobering reminder of the importance of safety and the need for continued vigilance in the skies.