Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating
the crash. The pilot, William Helwig Jr., 62, of Downers Grove, said he
had problems immediately after leaving the small airstrip that cuts
through the private Brookeridge subdivision near Darien.

"Upon takeoff, he began having engine difficulty and he tried to circle
back and land it, but he couldn't make it," said Robert Tinucci, chief
administrator with the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District. "We
were happy he was able to avoid any structures."

The plane went down just before noon and crashed across the street from
Darien-Woodridge's Fire Station No. 3 at 87th Street and Lemont Road.
Firefighters ran across the street and began tending to the victims,
officials said, and were quickly aided by personnel from other
firehouses and fire departments.

Some interesting notes:
-Fortunately, a station was within running distance, at the end of the
western "crash zone"
-No such luck for the eastern "crash zone" a wreck there requires FF to
travel 3-4 miles.
-D-W FD is not as generous in responding to aid another FD, as I
witnessed this
week with a car fire in a Cub Foods parking lot, a backup fire engine
had
to travel 3 miles, when the DWFD Mega-HQ is 1 mile east.