Personal Injury Law

Illinois plane crash kills two

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

Photo from Chicago Tribune

Two people were killed in a plane crash on Thursday at an airport near Joliet, Illinois.

Authorities have identified the victims as Stuart Seffern, 50, and Deborah Loiselle, 52. They were flying a small, single-engine Lancair 360 plane and apparently crashed trying to land at Joliet Regional Airport. Since the airport is uncontrolled, pilots land without communicating with the ground and no distress calls were received by radio.

FAA and NTSB officials are investigating the crash to determine exactly what went wrong and whether the crash was the result of pilot error or a mechanical failure.

Lancair planes are smaller and typically purchased in kits for home assembly. Some of the main fuselage sections come pre-assembled from the Lancair Company, but everything else, including cockpit instrumentation, is assembled by the plane?s owner. This particular plane was originally owned by the Lantzair Flyers Club, of which Sefferen had been president, but was later purchased by Sefferen and a friend.

There were clear skies around the airport at the time of the crash and officials doubt the plane could have struck power lines or trees as the airport is in the middle of large clearing.

Local news outlets are reporting that witnesses have called in saying the plane burst into flames in mid-air as it approached the runway. These reports have not been confirmed by officials.

A series of other recent Lancair crashes prompted investigation by FAA officials, NTSB officials and personal injury attorneys. The NTSB reports that there have been 122 Lancair crashes in the U.S. since 1989 resulting in 92 deaths.

The report does state that despite the home assembly of most of the planes, pilot error rather than mechanical failure was to blame in a majority of the crashes.

Still, anybody involved in a plane crash should contact an experienced aviation accident lawyer to discuss their rights.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on January 02, 2009 (boomark / email).