Cargo Plane Crashes into Chicago Home

A small cargo plane crashed into a home in Chicago early Tuesday, right after the pilot had reported engine problems, according to authorities. The occupants of the house were not injured, but the fate of the pilot was unknown, said police spokesman Ron Gaines. FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials are investigating the crash.

The pilot of the single-engine Aero Commander 500 originally was destined for an airport in Milwaukee but amended his flight plan at the last minute to go to the Ohio State University airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s spokeswoman, Elizabeth Cory said. Moreover she did not explain why the pilot changed his plan but soon after the plane’s departure, the pilot reported engine problems and asked to return to the Midway Airport, Cory added.

The plane crashed about a quarter-mile from its departing runway.

“Central 3-1…I’d like to come back and land. I’m having trouble with the left engine,”

the pilot said to Air Traffic Control over the radio.

“Roger. Either right or left traffic, your choice. Continue and let me know if you’d also like, you can make right traffic. You can also have 2-2 left,”

said the Air Traffic Controller.

“Going left traffic, Central,”

said the pilot.

Moments later, the pilot was unresponsive and the plane crashed.

“He went down. He didn’t make it to the airfield,”

said the Air Traffic Controller.

Fire officials told local news outlets they were still searching for the plane’s pilot. Crews are trying to shore up the scene to get into the plane and locate the pilot. Gaines said the pilot’s condition is also unknown.

The single-engine plane crashed into a two-story bungalow in the 6500-block of South Knox Avenue around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday, according to Ron Gaines. The plane is wedged between two houses, with the nose down into one house and the tail up with the body resting on the home next-door. Chicago Fire Department personnel called the Chicago Water Reclamation District to report a large amount of jet fuel that washed into the water system. The crash scene is blocked to traffic, but no major roads are closed in the area.

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Anne-Marie Jackson

Anna grew up on a steady diet of 20th century literature, science-fiction movies and Viking lore. Unsurprisingly she turned into a technology geek with an inclination for history & fantasy.