CARLISLE, Pa. — A pilot was killed and two Pennsylvania State Police troopers were injured Wednesday night when a small plane collided with a state police helicopter during a training exercise at Carlisle Regional Airport, authorities said. Josh Shapiro said Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit, suffered injuries but are expected to recover. “Tonight could have been a lot worse,” Shapiro said during a news conference at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Col. Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said the helicopter crew was conducting routine training exercises at the airport when the collision occurred. grass area adjacent to a runway when a Cessna 150 approached from behind. Investigators said the plane swerved to the right at the last moment and struck the helicopter’s rear tail rotor before entering its main rotor. “The pilots wouldn’t even have been able to see the plane approaching them,” Paris said, describing the resulting crash as “very violent.” The Cessna crashed a short distance away and broke into multiple pieces. Its only known occupant died. Authorities did not immediately identify the pilot, pending notification of next of kin. The helicopter lost its blades and tail boom before overturning and crashing onto its side and partially into the roof. Initially, both officers were trapped inside. Corman was able to push through a window and help Mills, who appeared to have more serious injuries and significant bleeding, escape the debris, according to state police. Both men left amid concerns that the damaged plane could catch fire. Ashley Ludwig, medical director of trauma at Hershey Medical Center, said both officers arrived as Level 1 trauma patients, but suffered only minor injuries and were in stable condition. One was expected to possibly be discharged Wednesday night, while the other was admitted for observation. Shapiro praised the quick response of police, emergency medical personnel and hospital staff. Shapiro said he called the response “an example of Pennsylvania at its finest.” The Federal Aviation Administration arrived at the crash site Wednesday night and the National Transportation Safety Board was expected to arrive overnight. State police said investigators obtained videos and photographs that could help reconstruct the collision. Officials said Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower, but pilots use a common traffic radio frequency. Investigators will examine communications on that frequency as part of their investigation. Shapiro said he contacted U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to request that the FAA expedite its response to the scene. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Copyright © 2026 ABC News Internet Ventures.
