A tragic incident unfolded in Boone County as a small plane crash claimed the life of its pilot in a residential neighborhood. The victim has been identified as 83-year-old Richard C. McClung from Rockford, Illinois.
McClung’s unfortunate demise happened on Saturday when his aircraft went down in Poplar Grove, as confirmed by the Boone County Coroner on Wednesday.
Authorities reported that McClung was the sole occupant of the aircraft at the time of the crash, which adds to the tragedy of the incident.
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The crash occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on Springmeadow Drive in Poplar Grove, a village situated about 80 miles northwest of Chicago, according to local officials.
While the precise reason for the crash remains under investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has identified the aircraft as a Whittman Tailwind.
The exact cause of the crash was not yet known. A Whittman Tailwind airplane was involved in the crash, the NTSB said.
Residents were shocked to hear and see the collision right near their homes.
“I just heard a noise and a loud bang, and I just saw a whole bunch of people running,” resident Jayden Gallegos said. “My heart was beating pretty fast, and I didn’t know what to really do.”
The crash caused some damage to a fence as well as some gas lines, forcing the evacuation of some people in the neighborhood at the time.
“Out of an abundance of caution nearby residents were evacuated due to the active natural gas leak,” local fire official Joseph Prokop said. “The scene remains active and we ask the public to kindly avoid the area.
The Federal Aviation Administration, the NTSB and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department are investigating, officials said.
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