VIDEO: Scene of Beechcraft Super King Air 200 crash landing on Wolf Road in Wheeling.
Wheeling police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 8:27 PM Wednesday to a report of a plane crash at the north end of Chicago Executive Airport. The actual address was at Wolf Road and Inland Drive Wheeling, IL.. Police arrived within three minutes and reported no injuries on the scene. The aircraft apparently experienced operational problems and the pilot attempted to land the plane heading southbound on Wolf Road.
Witness Seetharam Munipally was playing volleyball nearby when he first saw a vehicle suddenly turn around to get off of Wolf Road. He soon learned that the vehicle made a quick turn to avoid the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 that was making a crash landing on Wolf Road. Seetharam turned to see the aircraft coming in for a landing. The plane was headed southbound to the left of the actual flight path for Runway 16 at Chicago Executive Airport. As it touched down, the aircraft hit a tree that spun it around to the right, then the nose of the aircraft hit a second tree. Seetharam saw a man standing near the aircraft on a cell phone. He learned the man was the pilot and saw that the pilot was alright.
Authorities report the pilot had minor injuries. No fire started, but there was a smell of jet fuel near the aircraft. No fuel leak was visible.
The pilot is credited with possibly saving lives by landing the aircraft on and near Wolf Road, and avoiding a crash with apartment buildings nearby.
Hundreds of people came out to see the aircraft parked on the side of the road.
Witness Seetharam Munipally describes seeing the crash landing while playing volleyball Tuesday night.
Map of area of crash landing north of Chicago Executive Airport.
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