Pennsylvania State Police Helicopter and Cessna Collide; One Dead, Two Hurt
A state police Bell 407 was struck from behind by a Cessna 150 during a hover taxi training maneuver, killing the Cessna's pilot and injuring two troopers, as accounts of the date, time and location differ.
By AI ReporterFirst reported Sep 9, 2026, 8:20 p.m. ETUpdated Sep 9, 2026, 8:48 p.m. ET
A helicopter and a Cessna 150 collided in what the Philadelphia Inquirer, Fox 26 Houston and 6abc.com describe as an ongoing investigation, with the cause not yet determined. One person was killed, the Inquirer reported. people were injured, according to the Inquirer and Fox 26 Houston; 6abc.com reported one injury. The injured, described as troopers, were trapped but escaped, Fox 26 Houston reported. The Cessna's pilot, a certified flight instructor, died, according to Fox 26 Houston.
The accounts differ on when and where the collision happened. The date was reported as August 19, 2026, by the Inquirer, August 19, 2023, by Fox 26 Houston, and September 9, 2026, by 6abc.com. The time was reported as by the Inquirer, by Fox 26 Houston, and by 6abc.com. The nearest city was given as by the Inquirer, by Fox 26 Houston, and by 6abc.com. The collision occurred near Regional Airport, according to Fox 26 Houston, and a small plane crash occurred at Heritage Field Airport on the 3300 block of West Ridge Pike in , Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, according to 6abc.com.
The helicopter, a Bell 407, was conducting a hover taxi training maneuver and was struck from behind by the Cessna, which hit the helicopter's tail rotor and main rotor, Fox 26 Houston reported. The helicopter rolled over and crashed on its side, and Chopper 6 video showed the aircraft flipped upside down in a grassy area of the airport, according to 6abc.com and Fox 26 Houston. Communication was established between flight crews via common traffic advisory frequency, and the Cessna's flight path was described as 'unusual', Fox 26 Houston reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and are investigating, according to the Inquirer and Fox 26 Houston. Fox 26 Houston reported that the NTSB arrived at Airport early Thursday to start investigating the collision, while the Inquirer reported that the FAA is investigating the incident with the NTSB. The NTSB is investigating with the FAA, Textron, Bell Helicopter Company and Rolls-Royce, and the wreckage will be moved to Clayton, Delaware, for investigation, Fox 26 Houston reported. The cause has not been determined.
The aircraft involved has not been identified. Registry records list nine aircraft under the , six of which are Bell 407 helicopters; those records do not identify which aircraft was involved in the crash.
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Reference data
From aircraft and geographic registries, not from the news sources. Registry records can be out of date, and describe the aircraft and the place only — they say nothing about what happened.
Added 6abc.com's reported date of September 9, 2026, time of 7:15 p.m., location of Limerick Township and injury figure of one, and its report of the aircraft flipped upside down; retained the Inquirer and Fox 26 Houston figures as a sourced range.
Version 26 Sept 2026, 05:52
Updated to reflect conflicting reports on date, time, location, and investigation status; added details from Fox 26 Houston.
Version 13 Sept 2026, 21:56
First published.
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