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NTSB: Radio Contact Established Before Fatal Pennsylvania Midair Collision

Cessna pilot died and two state patrol helicopter occupants were injured in the crash near Carlisle Airport.

Meg Godlewski
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Edited By: Travis Tingle
A Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 was struck by Cessna 150 flying in the pattern at a nontowered airport west of Harrisburg. [Credit: Shutterstock]
A Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 was struck by Cessna 150 flying in the pattern at a nontowered airport west of Harrisburg. [Credit: Shutterstock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • A mid-air collision occurred between a Cessna 150 and a state patrol helicopter near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, despite the pilots being in radio contact beforehand.
  • The preliminary NTSB report indicates the Cessna, on a low approach, struck the helicopter's tail and main rotors as the helicopter was hover-taxiing off the runway.
  • The Cessna's sole pilot was killed in the accident, while the two helicopter pilots were injured but survived; no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were found for the Cessna.
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The pilots of the Cessna 150 and the state patrol Bell 407 helicopter that collided in flight near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were in radio contact prior to the accident, according to the preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board. The accident occurred August 19 over Carlisle Airport (N94) west of Harrisburg.

According to the NTSB report released Thursday, a witness stated he heard the airport Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) communications between the helicopter flight crew and the airplane pilot. FlightAware shows the Cessna had come from Harrisburg and was flying laps in the pattern for Runway 28.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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