Waterloo Pilot Injured In Monroe County Plane Crash

Personal Injury - December 29, 2024

Investigation Underway After Small Plane Crash in Monroe County Seriously Injured 71-Year-Old Pilot

Waterloo Pilot Injured In Monroe County Plane Crash

MONROE COUNTY, ILLINOIS (December 29, 2024) – A 71-year-old pilot from Waterloo was critically injured in a Monroe County plane crash in a field off of Dd Road.

Monroe County officials are saying that the accident took place on Sunday. A small single-engine plane crashed into a field before bursting into flames.

The pilot was able to escape before the plane became completely engulfed. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and burns.

A full investigation into the Monroe County plane crash remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Illinois Plane Crashes

The vast majority of plane crashes occur in private aviation with smaller planes. According to WUSA9, “In 2019, the accident rate for a commercial plane was 0.2 accidents for every 100,000 hours flown. For a private plane, it’s more than 25 times higher at 5.6 accidents for every 100,000 hours.” There are a number of reasons for this disparity.

  • Pilots in private aviation often have less experience.
  • Small planes used in private aviation often lack safety redundancies found in larger planes, like two engines.
  • Private aviation is not subject to the same level of regulatory oversight.

Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for any single-engine plane crash. For example, the company that manufactured the plane could be held at fault. Aircraft manufacturers have a legal obligation to ensure that their planes are reasonably safe and free of defects. Many possible defects with a plane could contribute to a plane crash.

  • Malfunctions with the fuel system could contribute to a plane crash. This may include clogged filters and improper fuel mix.
  • The landing gear on a small plane may malfunction.
  • Faulty wiring in the plane may cause short circuits.
  • The materials used to create a plane may have been substandard.

Plane crashes are often highly preventable, even when a pilot is doing everything correctly. In many cases, the plane involved may not have been properly serviced. This could also form the basis of a negligence claim. Any person injured in a plane crash may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim. An aviation accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Monroe County Plane Crashes

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the pilot injured in this Monroe County plane crash. It is our sincere hope that he is able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Monroe County plane crash? Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.