Accident Overview
On March 4, 2026, about 2145 central standard time, a Cessna T210M airplane, registration N19FB, was involved in an accident near Deerfield, Illinois. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight History
The airplane departed from an unknown location. The first ADS-B data showed the airplane southeast of Necedah Airport (DAF) in Necedah, Wisconsin, about 2040. According to the pilot's logbook, he had flown to DAF in the months before the accident. The flight began as a visual flight rules flight, and the pilot filed an in-flight instrument flight rules flight plan about 2049, en route to Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in Chicago, Illinois, about 150 nautical miles southeast of DAF.
Approach and Low Altitude Alerts
The pilot was conducting the RNAV 16 approach to PWK when air traffic control (ATC) issued a low altitude alert about 6 nm northwest of PWK. The pilot acknowledged the alert, and the airplane climbed about 100 ft but then began to descend. ATC issued another low altitude alert; the pilot again acknowledged and stated, "I am climbing back." ATC then alerted the pilot that he was drifting west of course. No further transmissions were received from the pilot.
Impact and Debris
The airplane impacted 50 ft tall trees and then the roof of a townhouse before coming to rest inverted in a residential backyard. The townhouse resident, sitting in a second-floor bedroom at the time, reported that the engine was loud and operating before impact. The debris field was about 550 ft long on a magnetic heading of about 050°. Multiple tree branches displayed cuts at 45° angles and a broom straw appearance. The initial debris included the left wingtip and part of the left aileron, followed by fragmented sections of the outboard left and right wings. The propeller assembly separated from the engine and was located in the debris field. All three propeller blades were twisted with rotational scoring; two blades had gouges in the leading edges. The main wreckage comprised the fuselage, inboard wing portions, and empennage.
Post-Accident Examination
Fuel tanks, including auxiliary tanks, were compromised; total fuel at the time could not be verified. First responders noted a strong smell of aviation fuel on the ground. The fuel strainer was removed, and the bowl contained fuel. The fuel selector was on the right tank. The instrument panel was crushed; the altimeter’s Kollsman Window displayed 30.04 inHg. The airplane was retained for further examination.