Cessna T210 Crashes Near Chicago Executive Airport, Pilot Killed

A Cessna T210M Turbo Centurion crashed in unincorporated Deerfield, Illinois, on March 4, 2026, killing the pilot during an approach to Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling.

The aircraft, registration N19FB, impacted terrain in the 800 block of Swallow Street at approximately 9:45 p.m. The pilot, Chester Wojnicki, 75, of Mount Prospect, Illinois, was described as a longtime and well-respected member of the aviation community. An air traffic controller had issued an altitude alert during the approach, and Wojnicki responded, but this was among the last communications between the control tower and the pilot. No distress call was made before the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have begun their investigation. The Lake County Sheriff's Office said investigators will examine the aircraft for mechanical issues, medical emergencies or other contributing factors.