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Paul William Sokoloski, MD

Age : 57

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/19/2026

Location : Carlisle Airport, 228 Petersburg Road

City : Carlisle

County : Cumberland

State : Pennsylvania

Agency : Pennsylvania State Police

Officer(s) :Bryce Corman; Jason Mills

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Pilot killed in collision with police helicopter during police training exercise

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

NARRATIVE:
On 08/19/2026, 57-year-old Dr. Paul William Sokoloski of Hershey was killed when the Cessna 150 he was piloting collided with a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407GX helicopter during a police aviation training exercise at Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
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The collision occurred at approximately 6:58 p.m. The Pennsylvania State Police helicopter was hovering several feet above a grassy area north of the runway while Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills were conducting routine aviation training.
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Sokoloski, the sole occupant of the Cessna, was attempting to land. According to preliminary information from investigators, the Cessna approached along the runway before suddenly pitching sharply upward, turning and leveling off before striking the rear of the hovering police helicopter.
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The impact caused catastrophic damage to both aircraft. The Cessna broke apart and crashed to the ground. The helicopter lost its rotor blades and tail boom before crashing and rolling onto its side. Sokoloski was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cumberland County Coroner's Office.
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Corman and Mills were trapped inside the wrecked police helicopter but survived. Corman escaped and helped Mills from the aircraft. Both were airlifted to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Corman was subsequently released from the hospital, while Mills remained hospitalized in stable condition.
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Sokoloski was an emergency medicine physician with Penn State Health and a certified flight instructor. He was an experienced pilot and was flying the Cessna alone when the collision occurred.
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Carlisle Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Aircraft operating at the airport coordinate their movements through a common radio frequency. Investigators determined that the Cessna and police helicopter pilots had communicated before the collision and were aware of each other's presence, although those radio communications were not recorded.
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National Transportation Safety Board investigators recovered data cards from the wreckage and are examining video, aircraft wreckage, flight paths, pilot communications, maintenance information and the operation of both aircraft. Investigators have not yet determined why Sokoloski's Cessna made its abrupt maneuver immediately before striking the police helicopter.
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The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration. The Pennsylvania State Police Troop H Major Case Team is also assisting with the investigation.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:

Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills were Pennsylvania State Police Aviation Patrol Unit pilots aboard the Bell 407GX helicopter during the training exercise.
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Mills had previously served as a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal in northeastern Pennsylvania before becoming a pilot with the State Police Aviation Patrol Unit.
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Both Corman and Mills survived the collision. Corman was released from the hospital, while Mills remained hospitalized in stable condition as of 08/20/2026.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/psp/newsroom/cessna-pilot-identified-after-collision-with-psp-helicopter-
https://6abc.com/post/what-know-deadly-plane-crash-involving-pennsylvania-state-police-helicopter-carlisle-regional-airport/19707319/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/small-plane-state-police-helicopter-midair-collision-carlisle-pennsylvania/
https://apnews.com/article/50ed96d65250a94e7ea3f21e7626c033
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-state-police-helicopter-midair-plane-crash-20260819.html
https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/AviationQueryv2.aspx