Pilot killed in Deerfield plane crash identified

Chester Wojnicki, 75, died from blunt force injuries after his small plane crashed into a residential area

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The pilot who was killed when the small, single-engine plane he was flying crashed into a residential area in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield has been identified as 75-year-old Chester Wojnicki of Mount Prospect. Wojnicki's Cessna T210 plane had departed from Madison, Wisconsin and was heading to Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling when it crashed around 9:45 p.m. on March 4, striking a roof and two gas meters before going down.

Why it matters

Plane crashes in residential areas are rare but can be devastating when they occur, raising concerns about public safety and the need for robust aviation safety protocols. This incident has shaken the Deerfield community, where the plane went down near a row of townhomes housing around 900 people.

The details

According to authorities, Wojnicki died from blunt force injuries sustained in the crash. Neighbors who witnessed the crash said they saw the plane "come in and go straight down" and tried to check on the pilot, but the "cockpit was destroyed." The plane struck a roof and two gas meters as it came down in the unincorporated area of Deerfield.

  • The plane crashed around 9:45 p.m. on March 4, 2026.
  • Wojnicki was pronounced dead at the scene.

The players

Chester Wojnicki

A 75-year-old man from Mount Prospect, Illinois who was the pilot of the small plane that crashed in Deerfield.

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What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the risks and potential consequences of small plane crashes in densely populated residential areas, underscoring the need for robust aviation safety protocols and emergency response plans to protect local communities.