FAA and NTSB Launch Investigation Into Mid-Air Training Collision Near Carlisle Airport

CARLISLE, PA — Federal aviation safety investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived at Carlisle Regional Airport Thursday night to investigate a fatal mid-air collision between a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter and a civilian Cessna 150 single-engine aircraft.

Collision Details and Search and Rescue Response

According to preliminary radar logs and eyewitness reports, both aircraft were conducting routine traffic pattern practice approaches to Runway 10 when the collision occurred approximately 1.5 miles west of the airfield. The civilian aircraft impacted agricultural terrain, fatally injuring the solo commercial pilot. The State Police helicopter executed a forced emergency autorotation into an adjacent clearing, with both state troopers sustaining serious injuries before being airlifted to Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of life, confirming that the department is cooperating fully with federal aviation authorities.

Airfield Operations and Radar Reconstruction

The FAA temporarily closed airspace around Carlisle Regional Airport to allow NTSB investigators to map the wreckage scatter, inspect engine flight controls, and recover cockpit GPS avionics.

Aviation safety experts highlighted that non-towered general aviation airports rely on visual separation and radio traffic advisories, which investigators will scrutinize through recorded unicom radio transmissions.

NTSB Factual Summary Timeline

The NTSB confirmed that a preliminary aviation accident report will be published within 15 days.