Small plane crashes in McHenry County

Officials continue to investigate a plane crash that killed four people Saturday morning near the intersection of Route 14 and North Ridgefield Road outside Crystal Lake.


The crash happened in a field around 10:30 a.m.


"We received several calls immediately after the accident happened," McHenry County Sheriff's Department Undersheriff Andrew Zinke said. "It was from people living in the vicinity, as well as you can see it's a heavily traveled highway and people passing by called 911 from their cell phones as well. In a short period of time we probably received 20 to 30 phone calls in a matter of minutes when the crash took place."


Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board said the McHenry County Coroner is still trying to positively identify the victims because they were injured beyond recognition.


Zinke said it is possible the victims were a man, woman and their two adult children. Some were still strapped into their seats when they were killed.


Crews remained on the scene well after dark Saturday to recover the aircraft.


Debris was scattered across more than 100 yards of field to the north and south of Highway 14 after the high-energy impact. NTSB Air Safety Investigator Tim Sorensen said the moderate rain that fell Saturday evening might prolong the recovery efforts until Sunday.


The victims are two men and two women who all appear to be 18 or older, according to McHenry County Deputy Coroner Curt Bradshaw.


"They have not been positively identified," Bradshaw said Saturday evening. "We only have presumptive identities."


Bradshaw said authorities are trying to reach the victims' families, who reside out of state.


The four victims were pronounced dead on the scene; autopsies are scheduled for Monday, according to Bradshaw.


The plane was a Cirrus-SR20, according to the FAA. The aircraft — tail number N223CD — was registered to the Marion Pilots Club Inc., of Marion, Ind., according to the FAA.


The agency was on the scene investigating to see whether rules of flight were followed, the pilot was licensed and the plane was properly maintained, officials said.


The National Transportation Safety Board is heading the investigation.


Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Lt. Dan Grischow said no one on the ground was injured.