PROSPECT HEIGHTS, Ill., June 26 (UPI) -- An official at a suburban Chicago airport said the roadway crash-landing of a small aircraft could have been much worse.
The pilot landed the plane half a mile away from Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling Tuesday just after reporting a problem to the tower, The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported Wednesday.
The Beechcraft Super King Air 200 was approaching the airport from the north about 8:30 p.m. when it experienced trouble and landed instead on Wolf Road.
"To develop a problem and then put it down on the road instead -- it could have been a lot worse. It could have been in some buildings, but he was able to put it down on the street to avoid injuries to himself and people on the ground. He did a spectacular job of avoiding homes and cars," said Airport Manager Dennis Rouleau of the pilot, who was the only person aboard.
When plane touched down on a local road, the prop hit the ground and then the right wing struck a tree in the road's parkway, spinning it around, Rouleau said.
Prospect Heights Mayor Nick Helmer said the plane came to a rest between two condominium complexes.
The pilot sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital, The Daily Herald said.
