Small Plane Crashes In Woods In Suburban Cook County

WHEELING, IL — A small plane crashed into a forest preserve while attempting to land at Chicago Executive Airport Thursday, authorities said. The single-engine amphibious aircraft went down shortly before 9 p.m., and its sole occupant was able to walk away from the crash.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration are on scene to determine the cause of the crash. The ICON A5 amphibious sport aircraft was attempting to land when it crashed about 1.3 miles northeast of the airport, according to a statement from FAA spokesperson Tony Molinaro.

The plane went down about 350 yards south of Dundee Road in a wooded area of Potawatomi Woods, part of the Cook County Forest Preserve District, according to Carl Vogel, the district's communication director.

According to flight records, the plane departed downtown St. Louis around 2:30 p.m. and arrived in Indianapolis about 2½ hours later. It left Indianapolis at about 6:30 p.m.

That model of aircraft comes equipped with a full-plane parachute, although it was not clear Friday if it had been deployed during the crash.

The Wheeling Fire Department said the 74-year-old man who was flying the plane was able to walk away from the crash. He was transported to Lutheran General Hospital with minor injuries, according to the Sun-Times.

Video from the scene showed the pilot emerging from the forest preserve with first responders. The entrance for Dam No. 1 Woods East will remain closed through the weekend, according to Vogel.