The Piper PA-30 went down minutes after takeoff on a frigid Wednesday afternoon, prompting an FAA and NTSB investigation.
WEST CHICAGO, IL — Two people were killed Wednesday when a twin-engine Piper PA-30 crashed shortly after taking off from DuPage Airport in West Chicago around 1:50 p.m., according to airport officials and federal authorities.
The crash halted operations at one of the Chicago area’s busiest general-aviation hubs and drew a rapid response from West Chicago police and fire crews stationed near the airfield on International Drive. The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft had just departed when it went down on airport property. The National Transportation Safety Board assumed the lead on the investigation Wednesday night and planned to conduct a detailed on-scene examination Thursday. Officials said the identities of the two people aboard would be released by the DuPage County coroner after families are notified.
Emergency crews arrived within minutes and found wreckage on or near a runway area, with debris contained inside the airfield perimeter. DuPage Airport Authority officials said both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The aircraft showed heavy damage to the front fuselage and nose area consistent with a high-energy impact. “This is a tragic day for our airport community,” the DuPage Airport Authority said in a brief statement offering condolences to the families. Police secured the site to preserve evidence as operations were temporarily suspended while firefighters addressed fuel hazards and investigators documented the scene.
Authorities identified the airplane as a Piper PA-30, a twin-engine model commonly used for training and personal travel. Airport and club representatives said the plane was affiliated with the International Flying Club based at DuPage. Officials did not release the names, ages or roles of those aboard, describing them only as a crew member and a passenger. It was not immediately clear which runway the aircraft used for departure, and investigators did not disclose the intended route. The cause of the crash remains unknown pending forensic analysis of airframe components, engines and propellers, as well as a review of pilot records, maintenance logs and weather data.
Witnesses at nearby businesses reported hearing the sound of an engine revving moments before seeing emergency lights race toward the southern end of the field. Chopper footage taken about 2:30 p.m. showed debris within the runway complex and response vehicles staged along the infield service roads. West Chicago officials said police coordinated with the Transportation Security Administration and airport operations to keep the perimeter secure during the initial response. No injuries were reported on the ground. Airport managers said they would reopen only after safety checks confirmed pavements were clear of debris and fuel had been mitigated.
DuPage Airport, 2700 International Drive, serves corporate, charter and instructional flights and is a frequent departure point for multi-engine training. The field has multiple runways and an on-site control tower. While fatal accidents at the airport are uncommon, the region has seen an uptick in federal attention to runway safety and general-aviation risk after a string of incidents nationwide. Investigators typically assemble radar tracks, air-traffic control audio and surveillance video to reconstruct the final minutes of flight, then analyze engine performance and any signs of asymmetric thrust or loss of control close to the ground.
Under standard procedure, the NTSB’s field investigator will survey the wreckage, map the debris path and collect perishable evidence such as fuel samples and electronic data modules if present. The FAA will provide technical support on aircraft certification and maintenance compliance. A preliminary report, which summarizes factual information without assigning cause, is expected in the coming weeks. A final report, including probable cause and safety findings, can take a year or longer. The DuPage County coroner will perform autopsies and toxicology tests as required in aviation fatalities, and local officials said next-of-kin notifications were underway late Wednesday.
Late Wednesday, airport leaders expressed sympathy to club members and the wider aviation community. Several pilots who arrived for evening lessons found gates restricted and waited outside the terminal while crews finished their sweep of the movement areas. “We fly here all the time and know the staff; everybody’s shaken,” said one pilot who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak for his school. Another club member said he recognized the model immediately from photos and called the loss “a hard blow” at the end of the year. By nightfall, portable lighting towers illuminated the crash area as investigators marked components with evidence flags.
As of Thursday morning, the NTSB continued documenting the scene and coordinating with airport operations on recovery of the wreckage to a secure facility for detailed examination. Officials said the airport would phase in normal operations after safety checks, with additional updates expected later Thursday. The next public milestone is the release of the NTSB’s preliminary report, which will outline the basic facts of the flight and the investigation’s early findings.
Author note: Last updated December 18, 2025.