Plane-Versus-Helicopter Crash: Details Emerge

CLEARWATER, FL — More details have been released related to a Saturday evening collision between a small plane and a helicopter at Clearwater Air Park that sent one person to the hospital.

According to Clearwater Public Safety, a helicopter piloted by Joseph Bell, 32, was hovering about 20 feet off the ground over the runway just after 5 p.m. Sept. 23. At that time, a fixed-wing aircraft piloted by Maurycy J. Sokolowski, 48, was attempting to land at the 1000 N. Hercules Ave. air field. (For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Clearwater Patch. Click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The plane “made contact’ with the helicopter in the air, sending the plane crashing to the runway, an email from Joelle Castelli, city spokeswoman, said. The plane then tumbled about 500 feet before stopping in an upside-down position, she added.

Sokolowski was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Bell and his passenger were not injured.

Federal authorities were notified about the crash, but chose not to respond, Castelli said.

No further information is available at this time.

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Photo courtesy of Clearwater Fire Rescue