Illinois Skydiving Event Destroys Plane, Kills Pilot

Posted: Updated:

Posted by: Scott Montgomery - email

Taylorville Police and Fire on the scene of the crashed plane, photo courtesy CNN

Associated Links

Mid-America Sport Parachute Club

Taylorville, IL -

A skydiving show on Saturday totaled a plane and killed its pilot.

Investigators told CNN the plane was taking part in a skydiving event at the Taylorville Municipal Airport, with twelve skydivers on board.

Those skydivers jumped off the plane and landed safely before the aircraft went down in a neighborhood.

Authorities said the pilot, 30-year-old Brandon Sparrow, steered the twin-engine Beechcraft 18 to avoid hitting houses on the ground but crashed in a 75-foot-wide backyard around 11:30 a.m.

No one on the ground was hurt.

"The plane hit right next to my bedroom," witness Jerry Dobyns told CNN. "It knocked all the windows out of the side of my house, and there was gas all over down there."

The skydiving event was hosted by the Mid-America Sport Parachute Club.

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

[Sources: CNN, Associated Press]

NewsMore>>
Report: Driver Had 10 Beers, Tequila Shot Before Deadly Grand Lake Boat Crash
Report: Driver Had 10 Beers, Tequila Shot Before Deadly Grand Lake Boat Crash

The driver of a boat that crashed into a the back of a houseboat on Grand Lake told investigators he had 10 beers and a tequila shot before the deadly collision, according to a preliminary crash report.More >>
The driver of a boat that crashed into a the back of a houseboat on Grand Lake told investigators he had 10 beers and a tequila shot before the deadly collision, according to a preliminary crash report.More >>
Dangerous River Conditions Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend
Dangerous River Conditions Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend

Campgrounds along the Illinois River, like Diamondhead Resort in Tahlequah, pack out around this time, every year for Memorial Day weekend, but this year may be different.
More >>
Campgrounds along the Illinois River, like Diamondhead Resort in Tahlequah, pack out around this time, every year for Memorial Day weekend, but this year may be different.

More >>
Grieving Disaster: Moore Counselor Weighs In
Grieving Disaster: Moore Counselor Weighs In

An expert said many homeowners in the area, and likely responders, are beginning to grieve the devastation the tornado caused earlier this week.More >>
An expert said many homeowners in the area, and likely responders, are beginning to grieve the devastation the tornado caused earlier this week.More >>
Recovery Continues in Moore Despite Morning Storms
Recovery Continues in Moore Despite Morning Storms

Gov. Mary Fallin says despite delays from rain and flashing flooding this morning, recovery efforts are continuing in Moore.More >>
Gov. Mary Fallin says despite delays from rain and flashing flooding this morning, recovery efforts are continuing in Moore.More >>
Getting Better Gas Mileage
Getting Better Gas Mileage
Updated: Thursday, May 23 2013 4:34 PM EDT2013-05-23 20:34:02 GMT

With routine maintenance and some careful driving you can save a lot of money on gasoline. More >>
With routine maintenance and some careful driving you can save a lot of money on gasoline.More >>

EntertainmentMore>>
Is Hayden Panettiere wearing an engagement ring?
Is Hayden Panettiere wearing an engagement ring?
Hayden Panettiere turned heads at ABC's Upfront party Tuesday, and it wasn't just because of her curve-hugging purple dress.More >>
Hayden Panettiere turned heads at ABC's Upfront party Tuesday, and it wasn't just because of her curve-hugging purple dress.More >>
Britney Spears wants a daughter someday, says her sons could be future entertainers
Britney Spears wants a daughter someday, says her sons could be future entertainers
Britney Spears said this week in an interview that she hopes to have a daughter to join her two sons, Sean and Jayden.More >>
Britney Spears said this week in an interview that she hopes to have a daughter to join her two sons, Sean and Jayden.More >>
Khloe Kardashian gets braces
Khloe Kardashian gets braces
Khloe Kardashian has gotten braces! The reality star recently got Invisalign to straighten her teeth.More >>
Khloe Kardashian has gotten braces! The reality star recently got Invisalign to straighten her teeth.More >>
Jolie admired for bravery in mastectomy revelation
Jolie admired for bravery in mastectomy revelation
Angelina Jolie says that she has had a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carried a gene that made it extremely likely she would get breast cancer.More >>
"I hope that other women can benefit from my experience," Angelina Jolie wrote in a powerful op-ed article Tuesday, explaining her decision to go public with having her breasts removed to avoid cancer.More >>
Prince Harry tours storm-damaged NJ shore
Prince Harry tours storm-damaged NJ shore
Britain's Prince Harry is headed to the New Jersey shore to visit two communities hard hit by Superstorm Sandy.More >>
Britain's Prince Harry toured two New Jersey shore communities devastated by Superstorm Sandy, shaking hands with emergency personnel and construction workers before spending Tuesday afternoon in New York City at events...More >>

Illinois Skydiving Event Destroys Plane, Kills Pilot - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports

Illinois Skydiving Event Destroys Plane, Kills Pilot

Associated Links

NewsMore>>

EntertainmentMore>>