A doctor piloting a small plane died Wednesday when his aircraft collided with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter on a runway at Carlisle Regional Airport. The pilot, Dr. Paul W. Sokoloski, 57, was attempting to land his Cessna 150 when it veered and struck the rear of the hovering police helicopter.

The Bell 407 helicopter had been hovering over a grassy area beside the runway as part of a training exercise. The collision sent both aircraft to the ground. Sokoloski, an emergency medicine physician at Penn State Health, was the sole occupant of the Cessna and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigation Underway

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators are examining the cause of the crash. An NTSB investigator noted that Sokoloski had performed maintenance on his plane before the flight, and officials are considering whether mechanical issues played a role. The flight path taken by Sokoloski was described as unusual, and investigators are working to understand why the plane approached from that direction and made a sudden turn.

The wreckage from the crash will be analyzed and investigators will examine the aircraft, the actions of the pilots and the environment at the time of the collision

There was no air traffic control tower at the airport, but pilots communicate on a common frequency. Officials have stated there is strong evidence that Sokoloski was aware of the police helicopter hovering nearby. Investigators are reviewing communications between the flight crews and examining the aircraft, the actions of the pilots, and the environmental conditions at the time of the collision.

Helicopter Occupants Injured

Trooper Jason Mills and Corporal Bryce Corman were piloting the state police helicopter. Both were trapped in the wreckage but managed to escape through a window. They were airlifted to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for treatment. Corman has since been released, and Mills is recovering with a good prognosis.

Footage showed attempting to land when on the runway before he veered to the side and struck the helicopter. Pennsylvania State Police say the Bell 407 helicopter had been hovering above a grassy area beside the runway as part of a training exercise

Pilot's Background

Dr. Sokoloski, an emergency medicine physician, had an extensive career dating back to the late 1990s and had worked in emergency rooms across the U.S. He also served six years with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard as security police. Colleagues remembered him as a compassionate individual who loved to fly. He held a commercial pilot's license and was a certified flight instructor.

He had an extensive medical career dating back to the late 1990s and has worked in several emergency rooms across the US