HINCKLEY, Ill. — Authorities have identified James Beyer, 51, of Maple Park, as the pilot killed in a small plane crash Saturday afternoon near Hinckley Airfield. The tragic accident also injured a 3-year-old child who was onboard and related to Beyer.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:33 p.m. in a rural farm field just west of the airfield, located at 12747 US-30, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency responders arriving at the scene found Beyer deceased. The child, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, was transported to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and later transferred to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago for further treatment.
The aircraft involved was a 1946 Aeronca 7AC, a single-engine light plane. It came down in a field just steps from the Hinckley runway, prompting questions about whether it was attempting to take off or land at the time of the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now investigating the incident. The aircraft remained in the field through Saturday evening as federal investigators examined the scene for evidence.
Beyer was well known in the local aviation community, and news of his death has deeply saddened friends and family. The toddler’s survival has been described by officials as “miraculous,” given the circumstances.
No further details about the cause of the crash have been released. The NTSB investigation is ongoing.