James A. Beyer dies in fatal Hinckley plane crash

James A. Beyer dies in fatal Hinckley plane crash

Fatal Hinckley plane crash death of James A. Beyer – Obituary

James A. Beyer, 51, of Maple Park, was identified as the pilot who lost his life in a plane crash Saturday afternoon near the Hinckley Airfield.

Emergency crews from the Hinckley Fire Protection District responded at approximately 2:33 p.m. to a report of a downed aircraft in a farm field just west of the airfield. Upon arrival, responders located a single-engine 1946 Aerona 7 AC that had crashed.

Beyer was pulled from the wreckage and given emergency aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A 3-year-old boy who was also on board, identified only as a relative of the pilot, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was first taken to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and later transferred to Lurie Children’s Hospital in stable condition.

Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are actively investigating the cause of the crash and were on-site Sunday to examine the scene and plan for the aircraft’s removal.