The airport collision between a Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Bell 407 and a private Cessna 150H airplane took place as the helicopter hovered about 50 feet away from the end of the runway, and after the Cessna had failed to land, according to the preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The crash, which killed the pilot of the airplane and seriously injured the two troopers inside the helicopter, took place on Aug. 19, 2026, at Carlisle Airport in Pennsylvania.

The PSP flight crew had been performing flight instruction training exercises at the airport, the report states. Shortly before the incident, it had flown a straight in approach to the runway, before slowly descending and transitioning to a hover taxi, exiting the paved surface to the north over a grass-covered field.

ADS-B flight track data for the helicopter (green) and airplane (yellow) during their approaches to the airport. NTSB Image

The helicopter crew and airplane pilot had communicated as the helicopter was approaching the airport, according to a witness who had heard the radio communication, as well as statements from the PSP crew. One of the helicopter pilots told the airplane pilot to extend his approach downwind, and the airplane pilot acknowledged and said he was number two for landing.

Using footage from three security cameras at the airport, the NTSB said the airplane crossed the airport’s threshold while the helicopter was still over the runway, about 30 seconds after the helicopter had done so.

“The airplane’s wings rocked to the left and right as the airplane flew low over the runway surface, and it appeared to make several lateral and vertical movements as it flew over the runway with the flaps extended,” the report states.

The airplane never touched down, and continued to fly along the runway with its wings rocking, before pitching up, climbing about “1 ½ wingspans above the runway.”

Four still video images from airport cameras A and C showing the airplane and helicopter as they maneuvered in the vicinity of the runway. The airplane is circled in yellow, and the helicopter is circled in blue. NTSB Image

The right wing then dropped and the airplane turned right and descended. This took it towards the helicopter, which by that point had transitioned over the grass field. The helicopter pilots said that due to their position and orientation, they didn’t see the approaching plane behind them.

About eight seconds after the helicopter had left the runway surface, the airplane hit it from behind, striking its tail rotor and main rotor blades.

The airplane separated into four major sections, the NTSB stated, which came to rest across an area of about 250 feet.

The helicopter’s main rotor blades and tail boom separated, but the main wreckage “remained relatively intact” and fell onto its left side, before coming to a rest.

The NTSB said postaccident examination has shown no sign of any mechanical issues or failures that would have stopped either aircraft from operating normally before the crash. It noted that the flaps actuators of the airplane were in the retracted position.

The investigation is ongoing.