A single-engine plane slid off the runway at Brookeridge Airpark in Downers Grove on Friday around 12:10 p.m., then rolled into the backyard of a nearby home. The pilot and a passenger were reported alert at the scene and were taken to a hospital to be checked out, and officials said the house did not appear to have any significant visible damage.
Officials: Pilot Lost Control During Landing
The DuPage County Sheriff's Office told local media that the aircraft lost control while landing at about 12:10 p.m., which caused it to slide off the runway and roll over into a home's backyard, according to ABC7 Chicago. Deputies and fire crews responded to the east–west runway area and secured the scene. Authorities did not immediately release the names of the people on board.
Plane Came To Rest Against Home, NTSB Notified
Local reports show the aircraft ended up resting against the wall of a home that sits next to the runway. The sheriff's office said there was no major visible structural damage to the house, as reported by CBS Chicago. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the crash and had no immediate public comment, according to CBS Chicago.
Brookeridge Is A Residential Fly-in Community
Brookeridge Airpark is a private fly-in subdivision where many homes are directly connected to hangars and taxiways, and the field maintains paved and turf runways along with onsite fuel, according to the airpark's website. The community sits roughly 25 miles west of downtown Chicago and regularly hosts fly-ins and neighborhood events, the Brookeridge site notes.
Investigation Will Determine Cause
The NTSB typically works with local authorities and the FAA to review wreckage, maintenance records, and other evidence, and general aviation investigations can take many months. The agency often posts a preliminary factual report within a couple of weeks, according to the NTSB. DuPage County deputies will continue to secure the scene while federal investigators determine what led to the landing incident on Friday.
Neighborhood Context And Safety
Living next to a runway is unusual but well established at Brookeridge, where aviation is part of the neighborhood identity. Past reporting notes that mishaps at the field have been infrequent and mostly nonfatal over the years, according to Chicago magazine. Neighbors have described a community that values its aviation culture and follows strict safety and noise rules, even as investigators review Friday's crash.
